---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's every American's duty to support his…"
description: "\"“It's every American's duty to support his government but not necessarily in the style to which it has become accustomed.”\" — Thomas Clifford Mann"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/thomas-clifford-mann-282887_government_it-s-every-american-s-duty-to-support-hi_1588736.jpg"
---

#  It's every American's duty to support his government but…

![“It's every American's duty to support his government but not necessarily in the style to which it has become accustomed.” quote by Thomas Clifford Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/thomas-clifford-mann-282887_government_it-s-every-american-s-duty-to-support-hi_1588736.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/thomas-clifford-mann-282887_government_it-s-every-american-s-duty-to-support-hi_1588736.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/thomas-clifford-mann-282887_government_it-s-every-american-s-duty-to-support-hi_1588736.jpg)

> ““It's every American's duty to support his government but not necessarily in the style to which it has become accustomed.””

Thomas Clifford Mann

## About This Quote

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

Citizens should support government but not blindly follow its current practices.

**In simple terms:** Support government, question its methods.

Key Takeaway

Engage critically with civic duties.

Themes

civic duty government politics critical thinking

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

Duty:1 Government:1 Politics:1 Support Government:1 Government Necessarily:0 American Duty:1

When to use this quote

- voting
- community activism
- public discourse

Key Concepts

political science ethics citizenship

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you support responsibly?
- What reforms do you endorse?

A Different Perspective

Blind support can enable harmful policies.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/)

## Related quotes

> [“When I was ten years old, one of my friends brought a Shaleenian kangaroo-cat to school one day. I remember the way it hopped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gerrold/when-i-was-ten-years-old-one-of-my-friends-brought-a-shaleenian/)

[David Gerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gerrold/)

> [Corporations care very much about maintaining the myth that government is necessarily ineffective, except when it is spending money on the military-industrial complex, building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lerner/corporations-care-very-much-about-maintaining-the-myth-that/)

[Michael Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lerner/)

> [Perhaps the fact that we have seen millions voting themselves into complete dependence on a tyrant has made our generation understand that to choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/perhaps-the-fact-that-we-have-seen-millions-voting-themselves-into/)

[Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/)

> [It is a mistake to assume that government must necessarily last forever. The institution marks a certain stage of civilization-is natural to a particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/it-is-a-mistake-to-assume-that-government-must-necessarily-last/)

[Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/)

> [It must never be unpatriotic to support your country against your government. It must always be unpatriotic to support your government against your country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-t-byington/it-must-never-be-unpatriotic-to-support-your-country-against-your/)

Steven T. Byington

> [The consistent support that singles player are getting is way more than doubles, it is 100:1. We hardly get any support, the only support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jwala-gutta/the-consistent-support-that-singles-player-are-getting-is-way-more/)

[Jwala Gutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jwala-gutta/)

> [It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-error-alone-which-needs-the-support-of-government-truth-can/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [The cause of Peace has had my share of efforts, taking the ultra non-resistance ground - that a Christian cannot consistently uphold, and actively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretia-mott/the-cause-of-peace-has-had-my-share-of-efforts-taking-the-ultra-non/)

[Lucretia Mott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretia-mott/)

> [In fact, it is my case that POFMA can easily become a proverbial Damocles sword that would hang over members of the public who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pritam-singh/in-fact-it-is-my-case-that-pofma-can-easily-become-a-proverbial/)

[Pritam Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pritam-singh/)

> [The reason families need two incomes today is not to support themselves but to support the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-armey/the-reason-families-need-two-incomes-today-is-not-to-support/)

[Dick Armey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-armey/)

> [We must support government coercion over enforcing international protocols and speed limits on motorways if we want the global economy not to collapse and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/we-must-support-government-coercion-over-enforcing-international/)

[Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/)

> [“It is error alone that needs the support of government.2 Truth can stand by itself. —THOMAS JEFFERSON, on freedom of religion”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-meacham/it-is-error-alone-that-needs-the-support-of-government-2-truth-can/)

[Jon Meacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-meacham/)

> [You have to ask yourself a question: "What's the purpose of the private sector - to support government?" And if the answer is, "Yes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-have-to-ask-yourself-a-question-what-s-the-purpose-of-the-private/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [Then I received support from the Government to compete for my country, and to represent Cuba in competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/then-i-received-support-from-the-government-to-compete-for-my-country/)

[Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/)

> [Though the people support the government; the government should not support the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/though-the-people-support-the-government-the-government-should-not/)

[Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/)

## More Duty quotes

> [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/)

[Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/)

> [Few political debates have been as divisive as the European one. I fought as hard as I could on the Remain side, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/few-political-debates-have-been-as-divisive-as-the-european-one-i/)

[Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/)

> [I'm a strange mixture of my mother's curiosity; my father, who grew up the son of the manse in a Presbyterian family, who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-m-a-strange-mixture-of-my-mother-s-curiosity-my-father-who-grew-up/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [“Is that what they teach you at the convent? That the gods demand the hearts from our bodies?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lafevers/is-that-what-they-teach-you-at-the-convent-that-the-gods-demand-the/)

[Robin LaFevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lafevers/)

> [The less we show our love to a woman, Or please her less, and neglect our duty, The more we trap and ruin her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pushkin/the-less-we-show-our-love-to-a-woman-or-please-her-less-and-neglect/)

[Alexander Pushkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pushkin/)

> [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/)

[Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/)

> [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [“You have a right to be sad, and a duty to move on. Only wins who wipes the tears, gather strength and move forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusto-branco/you-have-a-right-to-be-sad-and-a-duty-to-move-on-only-wins-who-wipes/)

[Augusto Branco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusto-branco/)

> [Our duty as Christians is always to keep heaven in our eye and earth under our feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/our-duty-as-christians-is-always-to-keep-heaven-in-our-eye-and-earth/)

[Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/)

> [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/)

[L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/)

> [Regardless of how you feel about war and peace those serving military are doing a duty for the rest of us and they're protecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/regardless-of-how-you-feel-about-war-and-peace-those-serving-military/)

[Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/)

> [“Duty is a done deal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/duty-is-a-done-deal/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [Politics...You see, it depends on what kind of politics. What we did during my father's generation was a duty. And it was beautiful because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/politics-you-see-it-depends-on-what-kind-of-politics-what-we-did/)

[Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/)

> [I do not so much rejoice that God hath made me to be a Queen, as to be a Queen over so thankful a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-do-not-so-much-rejoice-that-god-hath-made-me-to-be-a-queen-as-to-be/)

[Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/)

> [The whole duty of man is summed up in obedience to God's will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-whole-duty-of-man-is-summed-up-in-obedience-to-god-s-will/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

[Browse all 5,178 Duty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“It's every American's duty to support his government but not necessarily in the style to which it has become accustomed.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Thomas Clifford Mann"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clifford-mann/it-s-every-american-s-duty-to-support-his-government-but-not/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Duty"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clifford-mann/it-s-every-american-s-duty-to-support-his-government-but-not/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/thomas-clifford-mann-282887_government_it-s-every-american-s-duty-to-support-hi_1588736.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/thomas-clifford-mann-282887_government_it-s-every-american-s-duty-to-support-hi_1588736.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/243/thomas-clifford-mann-282887_government_it-s-every-american-s-duty-to-support-hi_1588736.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It's every American's duty to support his government but not necessarily in the style to which it has become…” — Thomas Clifford Mann",
                "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": "Thomas Clifford Mann",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-clifford-mann/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“It's every American's duty to support...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clifford-mann/it-s-every-american-s-duty-to-support-his-government-but-not/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-clifford-mann/it-s-every-american-s-duty-to-support-his-government-but-not/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
