Clementa C. Pinckney Quotes

I had the opportunity at Duke to start doing things in the community, and it's something I continue to do even 20 years later.

My ministry's always been one of social activism. I think a responsible minister must be at some levels involved in the social order.

I certainly feel a strong call of public service.

I challenge a new generation of young Americans to a season of service.

Civic participation over a lifetime, working in neighborhoods and communities and service of all kinds - military and civilian, full-time and part-time, national and international - will strengthen America's civic purpose.

By its very definition, civic responsibility means taking a healthy role in the life of one's community. That means that classroom lessons should be complemented by work outside the classroom. Service-learning does just that, tying community service to academic learning.

I believe if a private citizen is able to affect public opinion in a constructive way he doesn't have to be an elected public servant to perform a public service.

All I know is, I think I would like to continue to do public service.

What drives people to public service is a sense of possibility. If you haven't sensed that possibility you don't get started in the same way, you don't feel you can have an impact.

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

My passion for service came from my parents, and my community involvement began at a very young age, when I volunteered with the local Chamber of Commerce in Lowell, MA to help revitalize our city.

The primary thing I should do, apart from being a good husband, brother, son, and friend, is to be a citizen activist. But I'm afraid it takes away from the writing. Not that anything depends on whether I put an essay in 'The Nation' or not. But you want to participate.

Irrespective of any political party, I am a supporter of good people who want to do something for the society.

Being the Queen is not all about singing, and being a diva is not all about singing. It has much to do with your service to people. And your social contributions to your community and your civic contributions as well.

I'm a civic busybody and I've been blessed with an active career.

For most young Americans I know, 'serving' in the broadest sense now seems like the only thing to do.

Being involved in the well-being and advancement of one's own community is a most natural thing to do.

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.

There are a lot of ways to serve and only one is being president.

Political service is important because it's about helping others help themselves. That was engrained in me from a young child.

Public service is a core value for people of my generation.

I was very engaged in my communities throughout college, but I never thought of it as political.

Service learning connects classroom studies to real-world issues, with hands-on activities and problem solving. Youth can study biology and ecology by testing the water in their own community; or learn about statistics, calculating the food supply and usage at the local food bank.

I believe in sharing and contributing to society without being in politics.