Quotes About Participation

Without involvement, there is no commitment. Mark it down, asterisk it, circle it, underline it. No involvement, no commitment.

I think that, as life is action and passion, it is required of a man that he should share the passion and action of his time at peril of being judged not to have lived.

My definition of success? The more you are actively and practically engaged, the more successful you will feel.

We're at a point in history where everyone needs to pay attention to politics. Too much is at stake for us to be apathetic.

... that ultimate success in community leadership will only be achieved if it stimulates participation by others who are also to be seen as in their own way leaders and not merely helpers.

Corporate strategy is usually only useful if you get people engaged with helping you to make it work.

Maybe [success] is because I'm in China and I'm more open. Maybe it's my independent behavior, or because I participated in certain projects. I have no idea.

My start in politics was watching my parents go to the polls on election day. It reminded me that being an active, engaged citizen and voter is critical to the success of our democracy.

There is no more invariable rule in the history of society: the further electoral rights are extended, the greater is the need of extending them; for after each concession the strength of the democracy increases, and its demands increase with its strength.

Town-meetings are to liberty what primary schools are to science;

In the township, as well as everywhere else, the people is the only source of power; but in no stage of government does the body of citizens exercise a more immediate influence.

The American learns about the law by participating in the making of it. He teaches himself about the forms of government by governing. He watches the great work of society being done every day before his eyes and, in a sense, by his hand. In the United States, all of education is directed toward politics. In Europe, its principal purpose is to prepare people for private life. Citizens take part in public affairs too seldom to prepare them for it in advance.

The jury, which is the most energetic means to make the people rule, is also the most effective means to teach them to rule.

Town-meetings are to liberty what primary schools are to science; they bring it within the people's reach, they teach men how to use and how to enjoy it.

The inhabitant of New England is attached to his township not so much because he was born there as because he sees in that township a free and strong corporation that he is a part of and that is worth his trouble to seek to direct.

As the American participates in all that is done in his country, he thinks himself obliged to defend whatever may be censured; for it is not only his country which is attacked upon these occasions, but it is himself. The consequence is, that his national pride resorts to a thousand artifices, and to all the petty tricks of individual vanity.

When we set children against one another in contests—from spelling bees to awards assemblies to science "fairs" (that are really contests), from dodge ball to honor rolls to prizes for the best painting or the most books read—we teach them to confuse excellence with winning, as if the only way to do something well is to outdo others.

tu alma te dice: ¡Escúchame atentamente! Nada del exterior te hará feliz. Te estoy intentando avisar. Pero si sigues participando en este juego, voy a dejar de hacerlo y volverás a dormirte. En este caso te veré cuando tu vida se acabe…

Spectators of life are not those who will retain their liberties nor are they likely to contribute to their country's security.

treatment based on drugs alone allows patients to take a passive role toward their treatment.

Halfway through the televised debate I kick my boot into the screen. Even on mute I can't stand it. It feels good to smash the TV, though. I feel like I'm participating in the political system.

The hardest thing is remembering that you have some complicity in the things that happen to you in your life.

As democracy modifies our conception of life, it constantly raises the value and function of each member of the community, however humble he may be.

Don't get up from the feast of life without paying for your share of it.