Barack Obama Quotes

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.

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

We're all looking for an authentic way to be engaged in the community, engaged in politics, engaged in national discussion - and so, we're clunky. We're all clunky. But it's better than not doing it.

I just want people to know that if they want to change the direction of the country, they can do it, but only if they're active, informed, and engaged.

We are not merely historians but also and always citizens.

I want to help find opportunities for people to become active participants in their communities.

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.

There can be no daily democracy without daily citizenship.

I encourage everyone out there to get involved.

Citizens are refined, cultivated, and very political. I believe in the legitimacy of their participation.

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

As I get older and more tuned in to a community or an area, I see myself getting more involved. Not that I see myself running for office, but more involved in local issues.

Be an active participant in your community and country. Every small gesture makes up the big gestures. Resist, rinse, repeat.

I'm a citizen in a democracy. To call me an activist would be redundant. It's not a spectator sport. If we all become non-participants, it no longer works.

Good citizenship and defending democracy means living up to the ideals and values that make this country great.

As for being a voice in politics, I feel whether you are famous or not, busy or not, it's incumbent upon every citizen to participate in this government in any way we can.

What can government do? They can listen to their own people. But I'll tell you what citizens can do, when we elect one of these people - whether we think it's a good guy or a bozo - you got to stay on the case. You don't vote and go home and give them the keys to the car, he'll drive you right off a cliff. You have to help people to stay honest.

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

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.

I think we may be seeing the beginnings of a resurgence of civic-mindedness in this country. Hopefully the younger generations, which came out in record numbers during the last presidential election, will pass their enthusiasm on to their children.

You're a sovereign as a citizen. If you're not involved in your government, you're not doing your job. In the long run that's very bad for the Republic.

As citizens, we all have an obligation to intervene and become involved - it's the citizen who changes things.

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

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

Religiosity turns out to be the best indicator of civic involvement: it's more accurate than education, age, income, gender or race.