Norman Mailer Quotes

Democracy in the contemporary world demands, among other things, an educated and informed people.

A democracy depends on its people, the literate and the well read.

Democracy doesn't work unless people are well informed, and I don't know that we are. People just don't have the time. Most people's daily lives are just about surviving. Most people don't have time to really study [crucial] issues.

The survival of democracy depends on the ability of large numbers of people to make realistic choices in the light of adequate information.

Democracy is not just voting for your leaders; it's really premised upon ordinary citizens understanding the issues.

Without an educated populace, democracy cannot sustain itself.

Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.

Democracy can be sustained and developed only by people who understand its essence.

The real safeguard of democracy is education.

In a democracy you cannot stop public access to that art that will most misinform the people. You cannot stop people from being misinformed. But what you can do is to educate the people to the point that they will throw the rascals out.

You cannot have a democracy without an informed people.

No amount of charters, direct primaries, or short ballots will make a democracy out of an illiterate people.

Democracy is not something you put away for ten years, and then in the 11th year you wake up and start practicing again. We have to begin to learn to rule ourselves again.

Democracy doesn't require a whole lot of work of its citizens, but it requires some: It requires taking a good look outside once in a while, and considering the bad news and what it might mean, and making the occasional tough choice, and soberly taking stock of what your real interests are.

Journalism still, in a democracy, is the essential force to get the public educated and mobilized to take action on behalf of our ancient ideals.

Anybody who asks for democracy to be introduced should respect the results of democracy.

The great postulate of our democracy is confidence in the common sense of the people and in their maturity of judgment, even on great issues—once they know the facts.

If you don't have a democracy in which most people feel engaged, you don't have a democracy very long.

I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education.

Among the foremost benefits of free government is that education of the intelligence and of the sentiments which is carried down to the very lowest ranks of the people when they are called to take a part in acts which directly affect the great interests of their country.

The success of a democracy depends on the enlightenment of its people. The people should know what's going on, and public officials should keep the people informed.

We cannot sustain growth without trained manpower; not our democratic system of government, for freedom is fragile if citizens are ignorant.

If you believe in democracy, than you can't trash it by being cynical about the people who do democracy: the politicians.

Even if politicians spew confusing, convoluted jargon, these people are still meant to represent me, and the only way that happens is if I stay informed and vote.

The government should train and direct the people in their acquisition of political knowledge and ability, thereby enabling them to exercise the powers of election, recall, initiative, and referendum.