Life must be lived and curiosity kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.
Eleanor RooseveltRead
Democracy cannot be static. Whatever is static is dead.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Democracy must evolve and adapt to remain alive and effective.
Eleanor Roosevelt emphasizes that democracy is a dynamic process, requiring continuous change and adaptation to be functional and relevant. When a democratic system becomes stagnant and fails to progress, it risks losing its vitality and ceasing to serve the needs of its citizens.
Themes
DemocracyChangeAdaptationEvolutionPolitics
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech at a civic engagement event to inspire participation.
More from Eleanor Roosevelt
All quotes βGreat minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.
Eleanor RooseveltRead
You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give.
Eleanor RooseveltRead
Our children should learn the general framework of their government and then they should know where they come in contact with the government, where it touches their daily lives and where their influence is exerted on the government. It must not be a distant thing, someone else's business, but they must see how every cog in the wheel of a democracy is important and bears its share of responsibility for the smooth running of the entire machine.
Eleanor RooseveltRead
It takes courage to love, but pain through love is the purifying fire which those who love generously know.
Eleanor RooseveltRead
I believe that anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears to do.
Eleanor RooseveltRead
Similar quotes
The government is us; WE are the government, you and I."- Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore RooseveltRead
I wonder whether those of our political masters who have been put in charge of the defence of the country can distinguish a mortar from a motor; a gun from a howitzer; a guerrilla from a gorilla, although a great many resemble the latter.
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Unfortunately, you've grown up hearing voices that incessantly warn of government as nothing more than some separate, sinister entity that's at the root of all our problems. Some of these same voices also do their best to gum up the works. They'll warn that tyranny is always lurking just around the corner. You should reject these voices.
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In fact, the best thing we could do on taxes for all Americans is to simplify the individual tax code. This will be a tough job, but members of both parties have expressed an interest in doing this, and I am prepared to join them.
Barack ObamaRead