Welcome to our collection of Citizenship Quotes, where we delve into the essence of what it means to be a citizen and the responsibilities that come with it. Citizenship transcends mere legal status; it embodies a commitment to contributing positively to one’s community and society at large. Throughout history, thinkers, leaders, and ordinary individuals have articulated profound insights into the nature of citizenship, highlighting its importance in shaping the fabric of our societies.
From ancient philosophers to modern-day activists, the concept of citizenship has evolved, yet its core principles remain timeless. These quotes serve as reminders of the privileges and duties inherent in being a citizen, urging us to uphold the values of democracy, equality, and social justice. Whether discussing civic engagement, patriotism, or the rights of individuals, these words inspire us to reflect on our roles within our communities and strive towards creating a better world for all. Below, you’ll find a curated selection of quotes that encapsulate the essence of citizenship, each offering a unique perspective to ponder and apply in our lives.
We started a movement… to build character, citizenship and confidence in young people. Andrew Shue
The burden of citizenship is accepting that what is neither your fault nor your responsibility may be your problem. Anand Giridharadas
I want to enable the Windrush generation to acquire the status that they deserve – British citizenship – quickly, at no cost, and with proactive assistance through the process. Amber Rudd
I believe it is wrong for Canada to follow the path of countries who exploit large numbers of guest workers, who have no realistic prospect of citizenship. It is bad for our economy in that it depresses wages for all Canadians, but it’s even worse for our country. Justin Trudeau
As long as I live, I will never forget that day 21 years ago when I raised my hand and took the oath of citizenship. Do you know how proud I was? I was so proud that I walked around with an American flag around my shoulders all day long. Arnold Schwarzenegger
The test of good citizenship is loyalty to country. Bainbridge Colby
Washington, D.C. is what is broken, not the immigration policies. We have good laws. We have people suffer every day because of government’s failure to enforce the law and be respectful to the process we have. We have a pathway to citizenship already in place. Russell Pearce
Since the days of Greece and Rome, when the word ‘citizen’ was a title of honor, we have often seen more emphasis put on the rights of citizenship than on its responsibilities. Robert Kennedy
Nothing could be more insulting to me than the concept of civil rights. It means perpetual second-class citizenship for me and my kind. James Meredith
Elections remind us not only of the rights but the responsibilities of citizenship in a democracy. Robert Kennedy
Millions of us, myself included, go back generations in this country, with ancestors who put in the painstaking work to become citizens. So we don’t like the notion that anyone might get a free pass to American citizenship. Barack Obama
Therefore one should speak at the same time of national citizenship and wider European citizenship. Jacques Delors
On the other hand, the vast majority of all westernized countries, including every single European country along with Israel and Japan, do not offer birthright citizenship. Nathan Deal
In America, to be ID’d – sorted, tagged, and permanently filed – is to lose a bit of one’s soul. To die a little. This sounds like a subtle, poetic notion. It’s not. In American legal and cultural tradition, one essential privilege of citizenship is not having to prove it on demand. Walter Kirn
Religion creates community, community creates altruism and altruism turns us away from self and towards the common good… There is something about the tenor of relationships within a religious community that makes it the best tutorial in citizenship and good neighborliness. Jonathan Sacks
In a world of inhumanity, war and terrorism, American citizenship is a very precious possession. Phyllis Schlafly
Essentially, social education is moral education, and moral education is preparation for citizenship… When Jefferson and others advocated public education, it was to prepare for citizenship in a new, constitutional, democratic society. Lawrence Kohlberg
The mandate I have received and for which I will speak with heart and head to implement over the next seven years had its four pillars – an inclusive citizenship, equality and participation and respect in a creative society creating an excellence in everything we Irish do. Michael D. Higgins
Bohemia is nothing more than the little country in which you do not live. If you try to obtain citizenship in it, at once the court and retinue pack the royal archives and treasure and move away beyond the hills. O. Henry
I was a proponent of the ERA. The women of my generation and my daughter’s generation, they were very active in moving along the social change that would result in equal citizenship stature for men and women. Ruth Bader Ginsburg
The United States, you know, people – one of the reasons that it is said that native people received citizenship in 1924 was so that they could be drafted. And they have been extensively drafted. Winona LaDuke
Remember the Dreamers whose patriotism was praised when the Democratic House passed, and the Senate filibustered – the DREAM Act in 2010? Washington promised a path to citizenship, not just a roadblock to deportation. Christine Pelosi
President Bush said that if illegal immigrants want citizenship, they’d have to do three things: pay taxes, hold meaningful jobs, and learn English. Bush doesn’t meet those qualifications. P. J. O’Rourke
The criteria for serving one’s country should be competence, courage and willingness to serve. When we deny people the chance to serve because of their sexual orientation, we deprive them of their rights of citizenship, and we deprive our armed forces the service of willing and capable Americans. Dianne Feinstein
Those who take their money abroad in an effort to avoid paying American taxes should lose their American citizenship. Robert Reich
Through the years I have received my share of recognition for efforts in the fields of sports, the arts, the struggle for full citizenship for the Negro people, labor’s rights and the fight for peace. Paul Robeson
I think there’s no problem getting through the House a pathway to legal status. A pathway to citizenship is going to be tougher, but I think it is potentially doable, if we can show the American people that the border is secure. Blake Farenthold
The social and industrial structure of America is founded upon an enlightened citizenship. Bainbridge Colby
I have dual citizenship; I would be happy to go to England. I would be very happy to go to America. John McAfee
Allowing illegal immigrants that are gang members and criminals with COVID to enter the U.S. and receive citizenship is a slap in the face to the American people and the rule of law. Lauren Boebert
French citizenship should be either inherited or merited. Marine Le Pen
I have dual citizenship. Simone Biles
The Citizenship Amendment Act is a historic law. It has fulfilled wishes of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi. Ram Nath Kovind
The right of every American to first-class citizenship is the most important issue of our time. Jackie Robinson
We can still find middle ground, truly secure our borders, deal with those already here and address our labor needs. But those who advocate giving current illegal aliens and future guest workers a special path to citizenship must compromise. John Shadegg
I’m interested in people who find themselves in places, either of their choosing or not, and who are forced to decide how best to live there. That feeling of both citizenship and exile, of always being an expatriate – with all the attendant problems and complications and delight. Chang-Rae Lee
Strengthening our identity is one way of reinforcing people’s confidence and sense of citizenship and well-being. David Blunkett
Foreigners may be admitted to citizenship by naturalization, either collectively or individually. Collective naturalization may occur when a foreign territory and its inhabitants are transferred to the United States. Charles A. Beard
If those who wrote and ratified the 14th Amendment had imagined laws restricting immigration – and had anticipated huge waves of illegal immigration – is it reasonable to presume they would have wanted to provide the reward of citizenship to the children of the violators of those laws? Surely not. George Will
The opportunity to earn citizenship was vital to my success in this country, and today it is my highest honor to be able to serve my country as the secretary of Homeland Security. Alejandro Mayorkas
We also have a program in place for low income people. A family of four making $26,000 a year can receive medical coverage, irrespective of citizenship or what documents. George Pataki
Citizenship is a tough occupation which obliges the citizen to make his own informed opinion and stand by it. Martha Gellhorn
Home is where children find safety and security, where we find our identities, where citizenship starts. It usually starts with believing you’re part of a community, and that is essential to having a stable home. Matthew Desmond
My father earned his citizenship by serving in the Army during World War II. He devoted his life to caring for our nations veterans at a VA hospital in Buffalo, New York. That desire to serve fellow Americans propelled my four siblings into medical careers, too. Tom Perez
I am deeply grateful to the citizens of Sarajevo and the Sarajevo Canton assembly for bestowing upon me this incredible honor of citizenship. I am so proud to now be a part of such an extraordinary part of the world and fellow citizen to the people I deeply love and admire. Angelina Jolie
Everyone who is born holds dual citizenship, in the kingdom of the well and in the kingdom of the sick. Susan Griffin
The ‘anchor baby’ thing needs to be fixed… Anchor babies are an unconstitutional declaration of citizenship to those born of non-Americans. It’s wrong, and it’s immoral. Russell Pearce
Perfect freedom is as necessary to the health and vigor of commerce as it is to the health and vigor of citizenship. Patrick Henry
How can we possibly say the root of the Canadian approach to citizenship and immigration comes from Europe or the United States? I mean, we just don’t do the same things. What I’ve said, very simply, is that unlike other colonies, for the first 250 years approximately, indigenous people were either the dominant force or an equal force. John Ralston Saul
When you single out any particular group of people for secondary citizenship status, that’s a violation of basic human rights. Jimmy Carter
My grandfather renounced his Italian citizenship to come to this country and many members of my family were in the military. I will honor the flag and show solidarity with the flag. What can we stand for if we are not proud of this country? Emily Compagno
The Holocaust illustrates the consequences of prejudice, racism and stereotyping on a society. It forces us to examine the responsibilities of citizenship and confront the powerful ramifications of indifference and inaction. Tim Holden
I was born into a Turkish family that had acquired Italian citizenship. Many members of the family subsequently became British, French, Brazilian, and German, so there was a bit of everything. It was not uncommon for people in the family to speak seven languages: English, French, Ladino, Italian, Turkish, Arabic, and even Greek. Andre Aciman
Throughout our history, Canada’s immigration policy has brought people here who had a pathway to citizenship. They were – and are – nation builders. It has been supported by political parties of all stripes and promoted by successive governments over generations. Justin Trudeau
Becoming a resident of a state may confer the right to get a driver’s license, but it does not and should not confer citizenship. Phyllis Schlafly
I see little difference in the attitudes of those who consider themselves Christian and those who are openly secular and agnostic. Most Christian citizenship appears to be clearly right here – on this little bit of very unreal estate. Richard Rohr
There is no contradiction between the fact that Israel has full personal equality of citizenship but extends national rights only to the Jewish people. Ayelet Shaked
We are committed to ensuring that immigration is not further criminalized and that all immigrants are treated with dignity and provided with a path to citizenship. Cori Bush
Full participation in government and society has been a basic right of the country symbolizing the full citizenship and equal protection of all. Charles B. Rangel
We should make it as easy as possible to be able to get a legal work visa – not citizenship, not a green card. Just a work visa, with a background check and a Social Security card so that applicable taxes would get paid. Gary Johnson
Being born white in South Africa or anywhere in the empire and Commonwealth automatically conferred this special status. You had no problem finding a place to live, a job, trade union membership, access to social services. Being white, speaking English, you were accepted as English, entitled to all the rights of citizenship. Peter Abrahams
I’m for the DREAM Act. It makes so much sense. Following the implementation of the DREAM Act, we’ll have a case study we can point to where we can say that we provided a path to citizenship or legal involvement in the community for these young immigrants, and the sky didn’t fall. Beto O’Rourke
Before swearing in new citizens, immigration officials check to make sure prospective citizens weren’t on voter rolls or voted before achieving legal citizenship. A citizenship petition can be denied if they were. Kate Brown
Our immigration system is a broken system that needs to be fixed. We need reform that provides hardworking people of good character with a real path towards citizenship. Joe Baca
In Puerto Rico, we continue to see the perpetuation of second-class citizenship in the United States. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Tremendous changes are taking place in our country, eradicating the concept of second-class citizenship. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.
We watched the U.S. citizenship immigration services web site in March. They had six million, two hundred thousand hits, and two million people downloaded applications for citizenship. So what we’re doing is attempting to help people in that process. Luis Gutierrez
Congress should pass a law repealing birthright citizenship for children of foreign citizens, with the sole exception being children of legal permanent residents. Children born to business travelers, foreign students, tourists, and illegal aliens would not be automatically citizens of the United States. Tom Tancredo
Over the years, dozens of American companies have filed papers to trade in their U.S. corporate citizenship for citizenship in tax haven countries like Bermuda. Richard Neal
It’s not the physical location of birth that defines citizenship, but whether your parents are citizens, and the express or implied consent to jurisdiction of the sovereign. Phyllis Schlafly
I am an atheist, and I believe that religion should not be in the classrooms; it has to be in the churches. In the classrooms, you have to form citizenship, not people with religious beliefs, that corresponds to the private sphere. Pedro Sanchez
Well I don’t know, I might have lost my citizenship, I don’t think you can lose your citizenship though. Tommy Chong
Birth on U.S. territory has never been an absolute claim to citizenship. Phyllis Schlafly
Citizenship must be precious, not handed out like candy in a parade. We don’t ride along and throw out citizenship like you do M&M’s or Tootsie Rolls or whatever it is we’re tossing out in our parades. Steve King
No, I do not have dual citizenship with Israel. I’m an American. Ben Cardin
Business owners have made a strong case to me that they need guest workers. But none has suggested that these workers should be placed on a path to citizenship. John Shadegg
My father and mother brought me to this country to escape communism and to provide me with the security, opportunity and pride that American citizenship brings to each of us. Alejandro Mayorkas
Citizenship consists in the service of the country. Jawaharlal Nehru
Above all, I would teach him to tell the truth Truth-telling, I have found, is the key to responsible citizenship. The thousands of criminals I have seen in 40 years of law enforcement have had one thing in common: Every single one was a liar. J. Edgar Hoover
The most significant civil rights problem is voting. Each citizen’s right to vote is fundamental to all the other rights of citizenship and the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960 make it the responsibility of the Department of Justice to protect that right. Robert Kennedy
No other country on earth could have provided such tremendous opportunities and we should never take the privilege of our citizenship for granted. Jane D. Hull
Leaving America means renouncing your citizenship, moving out of the country and leaving family and friends behind. You can retain your citizenship if you like, but you’ll still be away from loved ones and still be paying taxes. You lose all the good stuff about America and have to keep all the bad stuff. Michael Arrington
The U.S. immigration system is the most generous in the world, providing each year more green cards for legal permanent residence with a clear path to full citizenship than all the rest of the nations of the world combined. Jan C. Ting
There’s a Biblical mandate to reach out to those who are the orphans, the widows in their distress, to take care of the stranger in your land. But that does not mean citizenship. James Lankford
Once we lose our border protection, the road to citizenship, voting and welfare benefits for a flood of new immigrants will be all but paved. Charlie Kirk
I’m Colombian-American. My father wanted me to have American citizenship, but he wanted to raise me in Colombia. Kali Uchis
Dignity, respect, and citizenship for essential workers is personal for me and in the best interest of our country. Alex Padilla
I believe that the president should be excused from some of the burdens of ordinary citizenship while serving in office. This is not something I necessarily thought in the 1980s or 1990s. Like many Americans at that time, I believed that the president should be required to shoulder the same obligations that we all carry. Brett Kavanaugh
We need to discuss the basis of a new form of trust built on a meaningful form of citizenship appropriate for a republic. Michael D. Higgins
When I first ran for public office, it was with the passion and idealism of a young man who believed that government could help make our lives better, that public service was a calling and that citizenship demanded responsibilities. There was a greater good. James McGreevey
Industrial capitalism brought representative democracy, but with a weak public mandate and inert citizenry. The digital age offers a new democracy based on public deliberation and active citizenship. Don Tapscott
Hospitals must provide emergency treatment to all who walk through the door, regardless of their citizenship status or ability to pay. Gary Miller
As the proud son of immigrants from Mexico, I’m honored to be the first Latino to serve as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety. Alex Padilla
There’s no such thing as second class citizenship. That’s like telling me you can be a little bit pregnant. H. Rap Brown
I’m not American. I still have my Japanese citizenship. Masi Oka
We’re all born into whatever citizenship, circumstances, or class we happen to be born into. Immigrants and so many people in the working class work so hard every day for nickels and pennies and scraps to just barely get by and then realize that this precious life has been completely drained out of us. Kali Uchis
There can be no daily democracy without daily citizenship. Ralph Nader
Twenty five percent of Israeli citizens are not even Jewish. Anybody can become an Israeli citizen if you qualify. Religion is not a criterion for citizenship. Alan Dershowitz
In my opinion, right up there with free public schools, our free public library system is what makes citizenship possible, even what makes America great. Karen DeCrow
Although an increasing proportion of the Hispanic population is foreign-born – about half of adults in this group – English proficiency is and should remain a requirement for citizenship. Linda Chavez