--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a long and honorable tradition…" description: "\"There is a long and honorable tradition of citizens in service to their nation that goes back at least as far as Cincinnatus, the Roman citizen who, mo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/tom-clancy-1751_citizens_there-is-a-long-and-honorable-tradition_1964319.jpg" --- # There is a long and honorable tradition of citizens in… ![“There is a long and honorable tradition of citizens in service to their nation that goes back at least as far as Cincinnatus, the Roman citizen who, more than once answered his country's call, then returned to his farm and his family and his work.” quote by Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/tom-clancy-1751_citizens_there-is-a-long-and-honorable-tradition_1964319.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/tom-clancy-1751_citizens_there-is-a-long-and-honorable-tradition_1964319.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/tom-clancy-1751_citizens_there-is-a-long-and-honorable-tradition_1964319.jpg) > “There is a long and honorable tradition of citizens in service to their nation that goes back at least as far as Cincinnatus, the Roman citizen who, more than once answered his country's call, then returned to his farm and his family and his work.” [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Citizens historically serve their nation and then return to ordinary life, exemplifying duty and humility. **In simple terms:** Serve then return home. Key Takeaway Balance civic duty with personal life. Themes service citizenship humility Mood respectful inspirational Type historical motivational When to use this quote - military service - community volunteering Key Concepts civic virtue historical precedent Questions to Reflect On - How can we honor service while reintegrating? - What support helps veterans return? A Different Perspective Modern service may lack such clear transitions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Farms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farms/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Term limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term-limits/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) ## Related quotes > [... for centuries there has been a long and honorable tradition of women who have resisted and protested against men and their power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-spender/for-centuries-there-has-been-a-long-and-honorable-tradition-of-women/) [Dale Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-spender/) > [I am a Roman citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/i-am-a-roman-citizen/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [I am for making of terms annual, and for sending an entire new set every year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/i-am-for-making-of-terms-annual-and-for-sending-an-entire-new-set/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [I fundamentally believe in term limits, for Congress, presidents, and board members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-breyer/i-fundamentally-believe-in-term-limits-for-congress-presidents-and/) [Jim Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-breyer/) > [No person shall be capable of being a delegate for more than three years in any term of six.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/no-person-shall-be-capable-of-being-a-delegate-for-more-than-three/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Careerism: the self-centered philosophy of governing to win the next election above all else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/careerism-the-self-centered-philosophy-of-governing-to-win-the-next/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [I would like to believe I would not have behaved differently had I not made a term limits pledge, but my own frailties and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/i-would-like-to-believe-i-would-not-have-behaved-differently-had-i/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [Politics and self-interest have been so uniformly connected, that the world, from being so often deceived, has a right to be suspicious of public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/politics-and-self-interest-have-been-so-uniformly-connected-that-the/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [I can see both sides of term limits, and I think, in different positions, term limits make more sense than in some others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-kennedy/i-can-see-both-sides-of-term-limits-and-i-think-in-different/) [Caroline Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-kennedy/) > [The permanent institutional expertise class is now no longer the legislators, it's the lobbyists who don't have term limits and are there forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/the-permanent-institutional-expertise-class-is-now-no-longer-the/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) > [The voting records of virtually every member of Congress reveal that the oath of office is more a ceremonial gesture than a sacred commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/the-voting-records-of-virtually-every-member-of-congress-reveal-that/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [I didn't want to make it a lifetime thing. I don't believe in statutory term limits, but people can limit themselves if they want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-j-mitchell/i-didn-t-want-to-make-it-a-lifetime-thing-i-don-t-believe-in/) [George J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-j-mitchell/) > [I've become a huge fan of term limits," the former aide said, "because Armey and the others in leadership used to be just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-sanford/i-ve-become-a-huge-fan-of-term-limits-the-former-aide-said-because/) [Mark Sanford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-sanford/) > [I believe in term limits for presidents because I think that there is no doubt I'm a better president now than I was when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-believe-in-term-limits-for-presidents-because-i-think-that-there-is/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The founding fathers never once rationalized getting in power and having control so they could stay in power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/the-founding-fathers-never-once-rationalized-getting-in-power-and/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) ## More by Tom Clancy > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [I understand why we do that now. It’s a help, not a threat. It’s something to remind you how important words are. Ideas are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/i-understand-why-we-do-that-now-it-s-a-help-not-a-threat-it-s/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [People, I am actually fairly smart. Why has this not occurred to anyone? The information is all out there, if you go looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/people-i-am-actually-fairly-smart-why-has-this-not-occurred-to-anyone/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [Sunday was the normal day for the political awareness session at sea. Ordinarily Putin would have officiated, reading some Pravada editorials, followed by selected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/sunday-was-the-normal-day-for-the-political-awareness-session-at-sea/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [Fix your eyes forward on what you can do, not back on what you cannot change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/fix-your-eyes-forward-on-what-you-can-do-not-back-on-what-you-cannot/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [Speak your dialogue out loud. If it sounds like the way people talk, then write it down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/speak-your-dialogue-out-loud-if-it-sounds-like-the-way-people-talk/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [Two questions form the foundation of all novels: "What if?" and "What next?" (A third question, "What now?", is one the author asks himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/two-questions-form-the-foundation-of-all-novels-what-if-and-what-next/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [The smaller the mind, the greater the ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-smaller-the-mind-the-greater-the-ego/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [Nothing is as real as a dream. The world can change around you, but your dream will not... Responsibilities need not erase it. Duties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/nothing-is-as-real-as-a-dream-the-world-can-change-around-you-but/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [An overnight success is ten years in the making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/an-overnight-success-is-ten-years-in-the-making/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [Bill Clinton is a man who thinks international affairs means dating a girl from out of town.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/bill-clinton-is-a-man-who-thinks-international-affairs-means-dating-a/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [The objective of a terrorist is to create political change in the society he targets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-objective-of-a-terrorist-is-to-create-political-change-in-the/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [“The Good of the People was a laudable enough goal, but in denying a man's soul, an enduring part of his being, Marxism stripped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-good-of-the-people-was-a-laudable-enough-goal-but-in-denying-a/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [(Stereotyping) is only for those without the imagination to see people as they are instead of being like someone else they understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/stereotyping-is-only-for-those-without-the-imagination-to-see-people/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [“The dead were gone and didn't know or care what they left behind.. If the dead still lived on the surface of this earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-dead-were-gone-and-didn-t-know-or-care-what-they-left-behind-if/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) [Explore all 209 Tom Clancy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) ## More Citizens quotes > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [I will be a model prisoner, as I have been a model citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-edwards/i-will-be-a-model-prisoner-as-i-have-been-a-model-citizen/) [Edwin Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-edwards/) > [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [“The police ultimately pay the price for poor customer service when citizens become fearful of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-police-ultimately-pay-the-price-for-poor-customer-service-when/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [No greater victory can be won by citizens or soldiers than to transform temporary foes into permanent friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/no-greater-victory-can-be-won-by-citizens-or-soldiers-than-to/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) > [My dreams were always small and puny. All I ever needed was a little house with a little picket fence by the sea. Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/my-dreams-were-always-small-and-puny-all-i-ever-needed-was-a-little/) [Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [Without the ability to talk about government power, there's no way for citizens to make sure this power isn't being misused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/without-the-ability-to-talk-about-government-power-there-s-no-way-for/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What I will stand up for is what I think is right and for the best interests of the citizens of the state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-judge/what-i-will-stand-up-for-is-what-i-think-is-right-and-for-the-best/) [Patty Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-judge/) Browse all 4,189 Citizens quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is a long and honorable tradition of citizens in service to their nation that goes back at least as far as Cincinnatus, the Roman citizen who, more than once answered his country's call, then returned to his farm and his family and his work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Clancy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/there-is-a-long-and-honorable-tradition-of-citizens-in-service-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Citizens" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/there-is-a-long-and-honorable-tradition-of-citizens-in-service-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/tom-clancy-1751_citizens_there-is-a-long-and-honorable-tradition_1964319.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/tom-clancy-1751_citizens_there-is-a-long-and-honorable-tradition_1964319.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/746/tom-clancy-1751_citizens_there-is-a-long-and-honorable-tradition_1964319.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is a long and honorable tradition of citizens in service to their nation that goes back at least as…” — Tom Clancy", "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": "Tom Clancy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is a long and honorable...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/there-is-a-long-and-honorable-tradition-of-citizens-in-service-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/there-is-a-long-and-honorable-tradition-of-citizens-in-service-to/#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 } } ] } ```