---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There can be no effective control of…"
description: "\"There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.\" — Theodore Roosevelt"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/theodore-roosevelt-218_activity_there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-cor_12724.jpg"
---

#  There can be no effective control of corporations while…

![“There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.” quote by Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/theodore-roosevelt-218_activity_there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-cor_12724.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/theodore-roosevelt-218_activity_there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-cor_12724.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/theodore-roosevelt-218_activity_there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-cor_12724.jpg)

> “There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.”

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Corporate power unchecked by political regulation leads to disproportionate influence, undermining democratic governance.

**In simple terms:** Unregulated corporate politics erodes democracy.

Key Takeaway

Corporate political activity must be constrained.

Themes

Power dynamics Democracy Corporate influence Regulation Political economy

Mood

Concerned Critical

Type

Political Analytical

When to use this quote

- Legislative reform debates
- Corporate lobbying scrutiny
- Public policy design
- Campaign finance reform

Key Concepts

Corporate governance Political power Regulatory frameworks

Practical Applications

- Designing lobbying disclosure laws
- Creating corporate political contribution caps

Questions to Reflect On

- How can democratic institutions limit corporate political power?
- What mechanisms ensure corporate accountability in politics?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [Control Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-corporations-372277/) [Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) [Corporations Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations-political-372276/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-activity-372278/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Remains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remains/) [Teddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teddy/)

## Related quotes

> [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains. To put an end to it will be neither a short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their-2/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [The true friend of property, the true conservative, is he who insists that property shall be the servant and not the master of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-true-friend-of-property-the-true-conservative-is-he-who-insists/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [All contributions by corporations to any political committee or for any political purpose should be forbidden by law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/all-contributions-by-corporations-to-any-political-committee-or-for/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Governments don't want a population capable of critical thinking, they want obedient workers, people just smart enough to run the machines and just dumb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/governments-don-t-want-a-population-capable-of-critical-thinking-they-2/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [It is not the critic who counts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-not-the-critic-who-counts/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [It is a bad thing for a nation to raise and to admire a false standard of success; and there can be no falser…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-a-bad-thing-for-a-nation-to-raise-and-to-admire-a-false/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [There can be no greater issue than that of conservation in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-greater-issue-than-that-of-conservation-in-this/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-not-the-critic-who-counts-not-the-man-who-points-out-how-the-3/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [A soft, easy life is not worth living, if it impairs the fibre of brain and heart and muscle. We must dare to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/a-soft-easy-life-is-not-worth-living-if-it-impairs-the-fibre-of-brain/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [To sit home, read one's favorite paper, and scoff at the misdeeds of the men who do things is easy, but it is markedly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/to-sit-home-read-one-s-favorite-paper-and-scoff-at-the-misdeeds-of/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/let-us-rather-run-the-risk-of-wearing-out-than-rusting-out/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [It is not the critic who counts...The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-not-the-critic-who-counts-the-credit-belongs-to-the-man-who-is/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Let us live in the harness, striving mightily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/let-us-live-in-the-harness-striving-mightily/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [The farmer is a poor creature who skins the land and leaves it worthless to his children. The farmer is a good farmer who,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-farmer-is-a-poor-creature-who-skins-the-land-and-leaves-it/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Work hard at work worth doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/work-hard-at-work-worth-doing/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

## More by Theodore Roosevelt

> [No people is wholly civilized where a distinction is drawn between stealing an office and stealing a purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/no-people-is-wholly-civilized-where-a-distinction-is-drawn-between/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/get-action-seize-the-moment-man-was-never-intended-to-become-an-oyster/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Argument weak; speak loudly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/argument-weak-speak-loudly/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Let the watchwords of all our people be the old familiar watchwords of honesty, decency, fair-dealing, and commonsense."... "We must treat each man on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/let-the-watchwords-of-all-our-people-be-the-old-familiar-watchwords/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [The forces that tend for evil are great and terrible, but the forces of truth and love and courage and honesty and generosity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-forces-that-tend-for-evil-are-great-and-terrible-but-the-forces/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Every reform movement has a lunatic fringe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/every-reform-movement-has-a-lunatic-fringe/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Conservation and rural-life policies are really two sides of the same policy; and down at the bottom this policy rests upon the fundamental law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/conservation-and-rural-life-policies-are-really-two-sides-of-the-same/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [It is a great mistake to think that the extremist is a better man than the moderate. Usually the difference is not that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-a-great-mistake-to-think-that-the-extremist-is-a-better-man/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [I am a strong individualist by personal habit, inheritance, and conviction; but it is a mere matter of common sense to recognize that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-am-a-strong-individualist-by-personal-habit-inheritance-and/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Alone of human beings the good and wise mother stands on a plane of equal honor with the bravest soldier; for she has gladly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/alone-of-human-beings-the-good-and-wise-mother-stands-on-a-plane-of/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [The greatest privilege and greatest duty for any man is to be happily married, and no other form of success or service, for either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-greatest-privilege-and-greatest-duty-for-any-man-is-to-be-happily/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [For unflagging interest and enjoyment, a household of children, if things go reasonably well, certainly all other forms of success and achievement lose their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/for-unflagging-interest-and-enjoyment-a-household-of-children-if/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains. To put an end to it will be neither a short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their-2/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [If elected, I shall see to it that every man has a square deal, no less and no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-elected-i-shall-see-to-it-that-every-man-has-a-square-deal-no-less/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Death by violence, death by cold, death by starvation - they are the normal endings of the stately creatures of the wilderness. The sentimentalists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/death-by-violence-death-by-cold-death-by-starvation-they-are-the/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

[Explore all 876 Theodore Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

## More Activity quotes

> [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/)

[Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/)

> [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/)

[Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/)

> [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/)

[Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/)

> [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/)

[Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/)

> [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/)

[Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/)

> [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/)

[Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/)

> [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/)

[Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/)

> [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/)

[Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/)

> [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/)

[Gero Miesenbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gero-miesenbock/)

> [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/)

[Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/)

> [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/)

[Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/)

> [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/)

[Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/)

> [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

[Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Theodore Roosevelt"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Activity"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/theodore-roosevelt-218_activity_there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-cor_12724.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/theodore-roosevelt-218_activity_there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-cor_12724.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/theodore-roosevelt-218_activity_there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-cor_12724.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.” — Theodore Roosevelt",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Theodore Roosevelt",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There can be no effective control...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
