Sandra Day O'Connor Quotes

I had become increasingly concerned in recent years about the lack of civics education in our nation's schools. In recent years, the schools have stopped teaching it. And it's unfortunate.

Even civics classes have almost disappeared from the schools. So things have not gotten any better.

It is absolutely the case that much needs to be done to invigorate and elevate the quality of civic learning in America

It is one of the great tragedies of the US, that most learn most of what they know about the government from the government.

You can't be a full participant in our democracy if you don't know our history.

When you Google me, you'll find a lot of people don't like Richard Dreyfuss. Because I'm cocky and I present a cocky attitude. But no one has ever disagreed with the notion I represent, that we need more civic education. So far there's 100 percent support for that.

I begin to feel like I was in the last generation of Americans who took a civics class.

It is an obvious and blatant stupidity beyond my ability to articulate how dumb it is for us not to teach our children how to run the government.

Civic education and civic responsibility should be taught in elementary school.

Let us give our Republic not the best possible laws but the best which they will bear.

An actual residence of such a length of time as would give a man an opportunity of esteeming the Government from knowing its intrinsic value, was essentially necessary to assure us of a man’s becoming a good citizen.

Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

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.

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

Cultivating a thoughtful citizenry is a project for educators, parents, and religious and community leaders as much as tech leaders.

The Athenians are right to accept advice from anyone, since it is incumbent on everyone to share in that sort of excellence, or else there can be no city at all.

To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people, is a chimerical idea.

We have a complex system of government. You have to teach it to every generation.

We stand in the shadow of Jefferson who believed that a society founded upon the rule of law and liberty was dependent upon public education and the diffusion of knowledge.

If they had taught a class on how to be the kind of citizen Dick Cheney worries about, I would have finished high school.

I believe the relationship you have with your government is not so different to a love relationship.

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.

Real patriotism is a willingness to challenge the government when it's wrong.

Government will not fail to employ education, to strengthen its hands, and perpetuate its institutions.

Join America taught English, an understanding of the U.S. Constitution, that the Bill of Rights is the ultimate insurance policy for a citizen, and that being a citizen is not an entitlement. And we also taught a bit of capitalism.