Phylicia Rashad Quotes

The effective functioning of our constitutional democracy depends upon the participation in public life of a citizenry that is well informed

A democracy depends on its people, the literate and the well read.

Democracy depends on well educated and engaged citizens.

Only a knowledgeable, empowered and vocal citizenry can perform well in democracy.

Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.

Reading builds the educated and informed electorate so vital to our democracy.

Most people associate reading with laying on the beach. They don't see that it's crucial for a democracy!

A constitutional democracy is in serious trouble if its citizenry does not have a certain degree of education and civic virtue.

We cannot sustain growth without trained manpower; not our democratic system of government, for freedom is fragile if citizens are ignorant.

We can't have an intelligent foreign policy unless we have an intelligent public, because we're a democracy.

A democracy is predicated on an educated citizenry. You cannot have a democracy with people that are more interested in what Nicole Kidman is doing or whoever the latest fashion model is.

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.

Democracy is not just voting for your leaders; it's really premised upon ordinary citizens understanding the issues.

Democracy is interactive... It's a constant job of information, education, explanation, listening, and interactive communication.

You can't be a full participant in our democracy if you don't know our history.

If you know how to read, you have a complete education about life, then you know how to vote within a democracy. But if you don't know how to read, you don't know how to decide. That's the great thing about our country - we're a democracy of readers, and we should keep it that way.

We are not educated well enough to perform the necessary act of intelligently selecting our leaders.

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

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

What is the first part of politics? Education. What is the second? Education. And the third? Education.

Without education, you can’t have democracy.

Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among people.

The vitality of democracy depends on popular knowledge of complex questions.

Without care, there is no democracy.

I believe that when you provide information to people, they become less fearful and they will engage more in their democracy if they are empowered with information.