--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our public officials have forgotten that…" description: "\"Our public officials have forgotten that they are ultimately accountable to the people who put them in office, that the information they keep in secrec..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/yoko-ono-726_forgotten_our-public-officials-have-forgotten-that_2113738.png" --- # Our public officials have forgotten that they are… ![“Our public officials have forgotten that they are ultimately accountable to the people who put them in office, that the information they keep in secrecy belongs to all of us.” quote by Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/yoko-ono-726_forgotten_our-public-officials-have-forgotten-that_2113738.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/yoko-ono-726_forgotten_our-public-officials-have-forgotten-that_2113738.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/yoko-ono-726_forgotten_our-public-officials-have-forgotten-that_2113738.png) > “Our public officials have forgotten that they are ultimately accountable to the people who put them in office, that the information they keep in secrecy belongs to all of us.” [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Officials must remember they serve the people, and secret information belongs to everyone. **In simple terms:** Officials serve the people; secrets are public. Key Takeaway Demand transparency and accountability. Themes accountability politics transparency Mood concerned critical Type political activist When to use this quote - government meetings - public hearings - media interviews - citizen activism Key Concepts democracy public trust Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens ensure officials stay accountable? - What mechanisms protect public information? A Different Perspective Power can be abused without oversight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Public officials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-officials/) [Secrecy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrecy/) ## Related quotes > [Our public officials have forgotten that they are ultimately accountable to the people who put them in office, that the information they keep in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/our-public-officials-have-forgotten-that-they-are-ultimately/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [As elected representatives, MLAs are accountable to the people and I will not allow anyone to undermine their importance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amarinder-singh/as-elected-representatives-mlas-are-accountable-to-the-people-and-i/) [Amarinder Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amarinder-singh/) > [Whatever and whoever you care about depend on freedom, on democratically elected and accountable people working to further your interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/whatever-and-whoever-you-care-about-depend-on-freedom-on/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [Computers are not accountable. People are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-richard-marek/computers-are-not-accountable-people-are/) [George Richard Marek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-richard-marek/) > [When providing people with the direction and expected behaviors, you need to be alert to the fact that they will hold you accountable. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-conant/when-providing-people-with-the-direction-and-expected-behaviors-you/) [Douglas Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-conant/) > [“In America, the government is accountable to the people, not the other way around,” says a constitutional law scholar sympathetic to the antiwar movement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/in-america-the-government-is-accountable-to-the-people-not-the-other/) [Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/) > [We have to make the bureaucracy accountable to the people. It is not something esoteric, it can be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arvind-kejriwal/we-have-to-make-the-bureaucracy-accountable-to-the-people-it-is-not/) [Arvind Kejriwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arvind-kejriwal/) > [“Corruption and leaders who feel they are not accountable to the people who ‘elected’ them to their positions are major issues afflicting the nation”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/corruption-and-leaders-who-feel-they-are-not-accountable-to-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am running to be the 50th mayor of Baltimore in order to usher our city into an era where the government is accountable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/i-am-running-to-be-the-50th-mayor-of-baltimore-in-order-to-usher-our/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [“Political solutions-accountable to the people and enforceable by their elected representatives- deserve another shot before we throw in the towel and settle for corporate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/political-solutions-accountable-to-the-people-and-enforceable-by/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [I think the more we see more officers holding each other accountable, the more we will see people trust cops in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/i-think-the-more-we-see-more-officers-holding-each-other-accountable/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [The only way we are held accountable is if people know what government is doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/the-only-way-we-are-held-accountable-is-if-people-know-what/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [Whistleblowers play a vital role in ensuring that the federal government is accountable to the people it serves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-moulton/whistleblowers-play-a-vital-role-in-ensuring-that-the-federal/) [Seth Moulton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-moulton/) > [There are multi-scatterings of various and associated issues and concerns, but it all boils down to accountable people versus those unwilling to be accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/there-are-multi-scatterings-of-various-and-associated-issues-and/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [Being a candidate who doesn't take corporate PAC money forced me to be accountable to the people I serve and to meet them where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaal-bowman/being-a-candidate-who-doesn-t-take-corporate-pac-money-forced-me-to/) [Jamaal Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaal-bowman/) ## More by Yoko Ono > [Our public officials have forgotten that they are ultimately accountable to the people who put them in office, that the information they keep in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/our-public-officials-have-forgotten-that-they-are-ultimately/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [Smile in the mirror. Do that every morning and you'll start to see a big difference in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/smile-in-the-mirror-do-that-every-morning-and-you-ll-start-to-see-a/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [Think of the Earth as a turning point in eternity. Think of the Earth as a meeting point in infinity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/think-of-the-earth-as-a-turning-point-in-eternity-think-of-the-earth/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [If your life changes, we can change the world, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/if-your-life-changes-we-can-change-the-world-too/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [ When people get cynical about love, they should look at us \[Yoko and John Lennon\] and see it is possible ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/when-people-get-cynical-about-love-they-should-look-at-us-yoko-and/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [True artists are prophets. I don't want to be that prophetic in that sense because it's so lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/true-artists-are-prophets-i-don-t-want-to-be-that-prophetic-in-that/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [The first idea, the first art piece I ever did, was when I was four. I cut the seed of a pear in half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/the-first-idea-the-first-art-piece-i-ever-did-was-when-i-was-four-i/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [John wrote with a very deep love for the human race and a concern for its future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/john-wrote-with-a-very-deep-love-for-the-human-race-and-a-concern-for/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [I always believed that my work should be unfinished in the sense that I encourage people to add their creativity to it, either conceptually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/i-always-believed-that-my-work-should-be-unfinished-in-the-sense-that/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [Losing my daughter was a very serious pain. There was always some empty space in my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/losing-my-daughter-was-a-very-serious-pain-there-was-always-some/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [People don't remember each tree in a park but all of us benefit from the trees. And in a way, artists are like trees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/people-don-t-remember-each-tree-in-a-park-but-all-of-us-benefit-from/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [Marriage is a gamble, let's be honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/marriage-is-a-gamble-let-s-be-honest/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [It's difficult to explain love. You want to explain water? You need a book for it. There are many different ways to explain what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/it-s-difficult-to-explain-love-you-want-to-explain-water-you-need-a/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [Being alone is very difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/being-alone-is-very-difficult/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [Many people do remember their births, but they deny it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/many-people-do-remember-their-births-but-they-deny-it/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) [Explore all 391 Yoko Ono quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) ## More Forgotten quotes > [While the 1963 Birmingham church bombing is the most historic, there also was a series of church burnings in the 1990s. Recognition of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthea-butler/while-the-1963-birmingham-church-bombing-is-the-most-historic-there/) [Anthea Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthea-butler/) > [Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogden-stiers/family-means-no-one-gets-left-behind-or-forgotten/) [David Ogden Stiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogden-stiers/) > [I was just going to say something, but I forgot when I started looking at you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-just-going-to-say-something-but-i-forgot-when-i-started-looking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Black women's intersectional experiences of racism and sexism have been a central but forgotten dynamic in the unfolding of feminist and antiracist agendas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/black-women-s-intersectional-experiences-of-racism-and-sexism-have/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [I mean, sitcoms shouldn't be doing 'Saturday Night Live.' You can't just do bit after bit after bit. You have to string it together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-dewitt/i-mean-sitcoms-shouldn-t-be-doing-saturday-night-live-you-can-t-just/) [Joyce DeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-dewitt/) > [People paid money for tickets to see us and be entertained by us, and we've never forgotten that. Anything after that was a bonus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-young/people-paid-money-for-tickets-to-see-us-and-be-entertained-by-us-and/) [Malcolm Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-young/) > [“Forgotten hero was never the real hero, real hero can not be forgotten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/forgotten-hero-was-never-the-real-hero-real-hero-can-not-be-forgotten/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [We began as mineral. We emerged into plant life, and into the animal state, and then into being human, and always we have forgotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/we-began-as-mineral-we-emerged-into-plant-life-and-into-the-animal/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [It's the frames which make some things important and some things forgotten. It's all only frames from which the content rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-babitz/it-s-the-frames-which-make-some-things-important-and-some-things/) [Eve Babitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-babitz/) > [Our public officials have forgotten that they are ultimately accountable to the people who put them in office, that the information they keep in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/our-public-officials-have-forgotten-that-they-are-ultimately/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [I have never forgotten a picture that I ever made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-bourke-white/i-have-never-forgotten-a-picture-that-i-ever-made/) [Margaret Bourke-White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-bourke-white/) > [I had forgotten that talking to you is like trying to pet a cactus." Saiman said dryly. "Thank you for reminding me." "Always happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/i-had-forgotten-that-talking-to-you-is-like-trying-to-pet-a-cactus/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [Im afraid of being forgotten. Because, it seems everyone I get close to, ends up forgetting me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arcine-arciniegas/im-afraid-of-being-forgotten-because-it-seems-everyone-i-get-close-to/) [Arcine Arciniegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arcine-arciniegas/) > [A lover asked his beloved, Do you love yourself more than you love me? Beloved replied, I have died to myself and I live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-lover-asked-his-beloved-do-you-love-yourself-more-than-you-love-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I had forgotten how wonderful it is to stand on a bridge and catch the scent of rain in the air. I had forgotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-steinbach/i-had-forgotten-how-wonderful-it-is-to-stand-on-a-bridge-and-catch/) [Alice Steinbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-steinbach/) Browse all 2,870 Forgotten quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our public officials have forgotten that they are ultimately accountable to the people who put them in office, that the information they keep in secrecy belongs to all of us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Yoko Ono" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/our-public-officials-have-forgotten-that-they-are-ultimately-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Forgotten" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/our-public-officials-have-forgotten-that-they-are-ultimately-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/yoko-ono-726_forgotten_our-public-officials-have-forgotten-that_2113738.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/yoko-ono-726_forgotten_our-public-officials-have-forgotten-that_2113738.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e83/yoko-ono-726_forgotten_our-public-officials-have-forgotten-that_2113738.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our public officials have forgotten that they are ultimately accountable to the people who put them in…” — Yoko Ono", "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": "Yoko Ono", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our public officials have forgotten that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/our-public-officials-have-forgotten-that-they-are-ultimately-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/our-public-officials-have-forgotten-that-they-are-ultimately-2/#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 } } ] } ```