David Pratt Quotes

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.

An educated people can be easily governed.

As citizens of a free society, we have a duty to look critically at our world. But if we think we know what is wrong, we must act upon that knowledge.

Civics is not only how to run the country before it's your turn to run the country; it is, in fact, the study of power, practical political power. And you must start that process at an age level when kids' brains are still open and malleable.

Governments never learn. Only people learn.

As Americans, it is up to all of us to be well informed and thoughtful, to help our country make the right decisions in this time or testing.

If you can't explain your vote in 30 seconds, its the wrong vote.

What is the soul, the informing spirit of our institutions, of our entire system of government but public opinion. Let us direct the force, the vast moral force of this engine, to the aid of others.

Democracy depends on well educated and engaged citizens.

I don't have a problem with athletes speaking up, but I want to make sure before they speak up, they read up.

What is really needed to make democracy function is not knowledge of facts, but right education.

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

I like to bring my kids to the voting booth to show them how it works. I'll let them draw their own conclusions as to how worthwhile it is.

Let's summon the courage to insist on a minimal level of civic knowledge for the citizens empowered to decide our fate.

It takes time for people to understand how, as an individual, I can have an impact on the way that society works.

I want to be an independent and responsible voice for Arizonans, and it would be unwise to endorse a specific approach before the costs and benefits of these options can be evaluated.

I believe in an informed electorate, and we need to teach our children to become informed enough to have opinions on world issues or, at least, to understand what the major issues are and who the players are.

Come prepared because you don't want to dilute the votes out there because you are uninformed and you're spoon-fed something that's inaccurate, or you don't even bother to equip yourself with the facts - anybody out there, this goes for everyone.

I don't want to tell anybody who to vote for; I'd rather people just do their homework and make sure they vote for the person that they feel like is best to run our country.

But I think your biggest crime as a citizen of society or America or the world is to be ignorant by choice. There's no excuse for that. I feel, when the information is at my fingertips, I could never choose to be ignorant.

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.

I stay up on current events. I read 'The New Yorker' and 'The Economist.' I go to community meetings to see what concerns the people in my neighborhood. I studied literature in college, so I also continue to read poetry, literature, and novels.

If you're trying to talk about public issues and politics and showcase it in a positive, different way, I think people like the idea.

We are not exercising our democratic rights properly. We need to stop looking for solutions in others.

As a community organizer who holds a degree in history, I understand the fascination with history. However, there is a tendency for many of us to get engrossed in the recounting of our history, which often amounts to purely intellectual activity without material action.