Kurt Vonnegut Quotes

Before you're a writer, you're a citizen, a human being, and therefore the weapons of the citizen are at your disposal to use or not use.

I just consider it a part of good citizenship.

The members of the Church, as members of society, have the same right and duty to promote the common good as do other citizens.

I am determined to be a first class citizen.

As young Americans, you have an important responsibility, which is to become good citizens.

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

I think I've been a great citizen.

I do feel, in a sense, the rules of engagement for citizenship has changed, and we must encourage other people to speak up and to take action.

I believe that engaging in the political process is part of being a good person.

From a very early age, I had imbibed the opinion that it was every man's duty to do all that lay in his power to leave the country as good as he had found it.

You must come forth to any Publick Service, whereof you may be capable, when you are called unto it.

I like people in the cities, in the States and in the Nation to ask themselves now and then: 'What can I do for my city?' not 'How much can I get out of my city?' I like people to speak now and then in the same devotion to State and Nation.

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.

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

I don't think any country is perfect. It's our responsibility to do the best we can do to change the things we don't like. I think that's part of social responsibility, and everybody is going to do that in their own way.

My parents gave us a strong sense of civic responsibility.

My father spent all those years building his brand. I happen to be his namesake, and I also happen to be the president of the largest Christian university. I think I have a responsibility to be a good citizen. The least I can do is to lend my name and whatever influence I have to make a difference politically.

I ask of each Mason, of each member, of each brother, that he shall remember ever that there is upon him a peculiar obligation to show himself in every respect a good citizen; for after all, the way he can best do his duty by the ancient order to which he belongs is by reflecting credit upon that order by way in which he performs his duty as a citizen of the United States.

We need a new kind of citizenship, so that we can see citizens as themselves earning the rank of patriot because of their involvement in their community affairs....We as a society need to be encouraging people to focus not just on individual wants but on serving the larger community.

I want my kids to grow up to be a useful citizen.

The era of big government is over, but the era of big challenge is not. We need an era of big citizenship. There are many important people at this summit, but the most important title is 'citizen.' This is our republic. Let us keep it!

We are bound by ideals that teach us what it means to be citizens. Every child must be taught these ideals. Every citizen must uphold them.... I ask you to be citizens. Citizens, not spectators. Citizens, not subjects. Responsible citizens building communities of service and a nation of character.

Our culture is at a critical cusp - a time that requires that we define what it means to be a citizen in a democracy. Within our nation we need to foster a greater sense of collective responsibility.

No office in the land is more important than that of being a citizen.

I got elected as the mayor of Philadelphia and yes I am black. But my responsibility is to all the citizens of the city.