Eric Williams Quotes

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

The first line of the U. S. Constitution is “We the people” … in thriving democracies any time that any player takes a key decision that ignores or evades “We the people” he violates the spirit of democracy and condemns himself to illegitimacy.

The Pulse of Democracy

I think it's the height of patriotism to continue to exercise your right as a citizen and to hold your government to account. Isn't that what the very essence of democracy is about?

Bernard Shaw remains the only model we have of what the citizen of a democracy should be: an informed participant in all things we deem important to the society and the individual.

Democracy must learn to defend itself.

But, you know, I'm sorry, I think democracy requires participation. I mean, I don't want to proselytize but I do feel some sort of duty to participate in the process in some way other than just blindly getting behind a political party.

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.

Our democracy is not something to be taken for granted. You have to fight for it. You have to commit yourself to working for it - for the long haul.

The best government rests on the people, and not on the few, on persons and not on property, on the free development of public opinion and not on authority.

All free governments are managed by the combined wisdom and folly of the people.

Representative government demands an ongoing conversation between legislators and constituents.

There can be no daily democracy without daily citizenship.

The democratic process is only as great as the people who participate in it.

To find ways of practicing democracy, not ways of orating about it, is our great problem.

The whole idea of a democracy is that we ourselves, the people, are supposed to make a path of our politics, and it is we who with our feet and our vote and our labors and our vigilance are supposed to shape our country.

A government as good as the people.

If you ever doubt that the people are the boss in a democracy, run for office. Even the President is a hired hand.

The government is just the people acting together.

We are not perfect. Democracy is a messy business … Democracy depends on people getting and keeping involved … In our democracy, the government is not them; it is us.

We shall determine all matters of state by public discussion, after assemblies have been convoked far and wide.

Healthy skepticism is necessary to the continuation of our democracy. When it turns to paranoia, it becomes destructive. American history has alternated between the two .... A nation where cynicism toward government prevails cannot function effectively.

In this country the government responds to the people, not the other way around.

Free government is government by public opinion. Upon the soundness and integrity of public opinion depends the destiny of democracy.

It is citizen participation that nourishes the strength of a democracy.