Michael Moore Quotes

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

A constitutional democracy is in serious trouble if its citizenry does not have a certain degree of education and civic virtue.

On the diffusion of education among the people rest the preservation and perpetuation of our free institutions.

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.

Only a knowledgeable, empowered and vocal citizenry can perform well in democracy.

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.

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.

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.

Without an educated populace, democracy cannot sustain itself.

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

Voting is a civic sacrament.

The values and voices of democracy are silent. Either we have lost touch with those values or, no better, believe they need not or cannot be taught.

The effective functioning of our constitutional democracy depends upon the participation in public life of a citizenry that is well informed

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

Voting is how we participate in a civic society - be it for president, be it for a municipal election. It's the way we teach our children - in school elections - how to be citizens, and the importance of their voice.

A democracy is predicated on an educated citizenry. You cannot have a democracy with people that are more interested in what Nicole Kidman is doing or whoever the latest fashion model is.

Individual actions are important because in any democracy, citizens need to feel agency. If you feel powerless, totally powerless, it's psychologically dangerous.

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

I don't normally vote. I'm lazy and I never bought into the 'Every vote counts.'

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.

Growing up, when we would get dragged to these events, I didn't want to be there. Over time, as we got older, I developed a real appreciation of the importance of being involved in the democratic process.

Democracy is interactive... It's a constant job of information, education, explanation, listening, and interactive communication.

I believe that everyone should participate in democracy and enjoy doing it.

And they understand that to be an effective member of a democracy, you have to accept responsibility.