John Ashcroft Quotes

I wanted to be what my high-school civics and history teacher thought of as a good American. That automatically involved taking an interest in government.

Since an early age I was taught to be very politically aware and knew from childhood that the process was something I wanted to contribute towards if I could.

Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you.

Knowledge of human nature is the beginning and end of political education.

The first lesson in civics is that efficient government begins at home.

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

Democracy is something that you must learn each generation. It has to be taught.

Caring about policy is important - people in washington forget.

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

You can study government and politics in school, but the best way to really understand the process is to volunteer your time.

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

The first duty of an American citizen, then is that he shall work in politics.

All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education of youth.

For America to work, Americans have to participate. If they don’t pay attention, they’re going to get screwed.

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

For me, getting young people engaged in politics and public service is really one of the most fun things that I get to do.

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

I haven't necessarily joined politics to become a leader but because it was the need of the time.

I don't want to tell anybody who to vote for; I'd rather people just do their homework and make sure they vote for the person that they feel like is best to run our country.

I'm obviously not a politician, nor do I have the desire to be one, but I'm a conscious citizen.

It's fun to play a part in the process of helping to inform readers about their political leaders.

I'm intrigued by being in public office.

I've always believed that what's best for our kids is what's best for our state. That's why I've dedicated my life to public service, working as an educator, a school administrator, a state superintendent, and now as a candidate for governor.

We need to understand that we as citizens and as a government in any community throughout this country have no more important obligation than to educate those who are going to replace us.

Politics is about the participation and engagement of the wider citizenry - to miss that point would doom us to irrelevance.