Civic Engagement Quotes

“The most important political office is that of private citizen.”
― Louis Brandeis

“If you are ever really down on yourself, the best thing you can do is help someone else, and become outwardly focused.”
― Andrew Lutts, How to Live a Magnificent Life: Becoming the Living Expression of Higher Consciousness

“infrastructure" is not a term conventionally used to describe the underpinnings of social life. But this is a consequential oversight, because the built environment -- and not just cultural preferences or the existence of voluntary organizations -- influences the breadth and depth of our associations. If states and societies do not recognize social infrastructure and how it works, they will fail to see a powerful way to promote civic engagement and social interaction, both within communities and across group lines.”
― Eric Klinenberg, Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life

“A moral economy is either a moral enterprise that is guided by a genuine spiritual desire to create one, even at the expense of strictly economic considerations, or it will degenerate into another profit-oriented and exploitative use of resources. Citizens who are not prepared to pay higher prices to support such an economy and volunteer their own efforts on its behalf are not likely to be prepared for self-governance in any form. Hence the need for a new municipal politics to become an intensely educational and participatory experience at every level of civic life.”
― Murray Bookchin, Urbanization Without Cities: The Rise and Decline of Citizenship

“Because sustaining civic feeling is so difficult, democracies are subject to entropy. When the bond of citizenship is badly cast or has been allowed to weaken, there is a natural tendency for subpolitical attachments to become paramount in people's minds. We see this in every failed American effort to export democracy abroad. And we are also seeing it in Eastern Europe today, a particularly tragic development. Within a few years after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, democratic institutions were established there. But not a sense of shared citizenship, which is the work of generations. Democracies without democrats do not last. They decay, into oligarchy, theocracy, ethnic nationalism, tribalism, authoritarian one-party rule, or some combination of these.”
― Mark Lilla, The Once and Future Liberal: After Identity Politics

“When in conflict we should demonstrate that our public witness is more important than winning a political battle.”
― Justin Giboney, Compassion (&) Conviction: The AND Campaign's Guide to Faithful Civic Engagement

“Having a free press doesn’t mean anyone cares.”
― Nell Zink, The Wallcreeper

“Till civic intervention becomes the norm, political intervention will achieve nothing.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Rowdy Scientist: Handbook of Humanitarian Science

“Youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the catalysts for change today."

"True justice lies in creating spaces where every voice, no matter how quiet, can be heard."

"Inclusive development begins with acknowledging the power of diversity in every corner of society."

"Advocacy is not a profession; it is a responsibility we owe to the generations that come after us."

"Empowering young minds is the key to unlocking a future built on innovation, compassion, and resilience."

"Laws shape society, but it is the values of fairness and equality that breathe life into them."

"A sustainable future is crafted when policy, people, and purpose align."

"Strengthening civic engagement is not just about building informed citizens; it’s about nurturing empowered communities."

"In every challenge lies an opportunity for growth, and in every voice, a spark for change."

"Human rights are not negotiable; they are the foundation upon which we build a just society.”
― Panha Vorng

“It may seem that only those already in power are the ones with the ability to make change, but democracy is a participation sport, and if we all take on one small part, we can make big changes.”
― Sami Sage, Democracy in Retrograde: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and in Our Lives

“My Papa thinks I should take a break from detecting for a while.”
― Kitty Felde, State of the Union