Ron Kovic Quotes

There is no one left to fix the nation, none but all of us.

The American Government will be what we all make of it.

I want Americans to realize that we are the owners of this country, and that one person can make a difference.

As citizens of a free society, we have a duty to look critically at our world. But if we think we know what is wrong, we must act upon that knowledge.

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 expect we will become more demanding as citizens.

The most important office, ... that of private citizen.

The young people ... must recognize that they will get from their country tomorrow what they give her today.

We have a great nation to help govern. We who are citizens of this great republic are favored children, yet we are all the time complaining; but that is one of the inalienable privileges of an American to complain about his neighbor and government-always crying for a change. But, with all of its faults, this is the best government for man on the face of the earth

Forget being an actor-director: we, as citizens, have the responsibility to make the country a better place. And that doesn't mean advertising other people's agendas; it means looking at what is wrong and making it right.

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

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

'Unlikely Brothers' talks about the importance of citizen action and shows why and how we can make a difference.

We must care. We must all care. And while I am working, while the governments is working, so must the people also work.

There can be no daily democracy without daily citizenship.

No citizen is apolitical; as a citizen, by definition, has to take interest in public affairs.

I fail to see the issue that will shock the people of this great country of ours into some decisive action.

Real patriotism is a willingness to challenge the government when it's wrong.

The whole idea of a democracy is that we ourselves, the people, are supposed to make a path of our politics, and it is we who with our feet and our vote and our labors and our vigilance are supposed to shape our country.

I have always believed that on important issues, the leaders must lead. Where the leaders fail to lead, and people are really concerned about it, the people will take the lead and make the leaders follow.

We can and must move U.S. politics forward by means of committed participation.

Let us all take more responsibility, not only for ourselves and our families but for our communities and our country.

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

Ask not what you can do for your country; ask what your government is doing to you.

Government is not a substitute for people, but simply the instrument through which they act. And if the individual fails to do his duty as a citizen, government becomes a very deadly instrument indeed.