Vernon Ehlers Quotes

There can be no daily democracy without daily citizenship.

The job of a citizen is to keep his mouth open.

As a citizen, you need to know how to be a part of it, how to express yourself - and not just by voting.

A government is invigorated when each of us is willing to participate in shaping the future of this nation

We do not say that a man who takes no interest in politics is a man who minds his own business; we say that he has no business here at all.

The American Government will be what we all make of it.

Real change begins with citizens registering to vote, becoming active and engaged in their communities, and casting their ballot at every election for those who will fairly and accurately represent them.

The era of big government is over, but the era of big challenge is not. We need an era of big citizenship. There are many important people at this summit, but the most important title is 'citizen.' This is our republic. Let us keep it!

Politics should be the part-time profession of every citizen.

Citizenship is a tough occupation which obliges the citizen to make his own informed opinion and stand by it.

The most important political office is that of the private citizen.

I always preach that you have to be active as a citizen no matter what, and some people just voting as an excuse not to do anything.

The first duty of an American citizen, then is that he shall work in politics.

Democracy is not something you believe in or a place to hang your hat, but it's something you do. You participate. If you stop doing it, democracy crumbles.

The most important office, ... that of private citizen.

For America to work, Americans have to participate. If they don’t pay attention, they’re going to get screwed.

Voting is still the most exciting thing we do as Americans together.

Political action is the highest responsibility of a citizen.

In the great fulfillment, we must have a citizenship less concerned about what the government can do for it, and more anxious about what it can do for the nation.

Responsible citizenship comes from direct participation in the conduct of the government, and imposes equal responsibility upon every citizen. If we could quicken and increase appreciation of this responsibility, and every citizen were made to feel its weight and importance, it would go far toward improving our political and national life.

The very right to vote imposes on me the duty to instruct myself in public affairs however little influence my voice may have in them.

To speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government. Let every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it.

Democracy is not a spectator sport. It is a difficult, hard, full-contact, participatory endeavor.

The work of being a citizen is hard and annoying, but it can pay off.

I ask you to find your voice and use it not only to choose your elected officials but to shape the issues that will shape our lives.