Many of us spend half of our time wishing for things we could have if we didn't spend half our time wishing.
Alexander WoollcottRead
I'm tired of hearing it said that democracy doesn't work. Of course it doesn't work. We are supposed to work it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Democracy requires active participation to function effectively.
Alexander Woollcott underscores the notion that democracy is not a self-sustaining system; rather, it demands involvement and effort from its citizens to thrive. The quote implies that citizens must actively engage in the democratic process, rather than criticizing it passively.
Themes
DemocracyParticipationCitizenshipEngagementPolitics
In practice
Example use cases
In a political rally to encourage voter turnout.
More from Alexander Woollcott
All quotes →Similar quotes
In the United States large corporations control some members of Congress. All this does is delay the corporation’s funeral at our expense.
Nassim Nicholas TalebRead
We are paying a heavy political price for 20 years in which, as a party, we have played down our criticism of capitalism and soft-peddled our advocacy of socialism
Tony BennRead
Using these unnamed sources, if done properly, carefully and fairly, provides more accountability in government.
Bob WoodwardRead
To put a woman on the ticket would challenge the loyalty of women everywhere to their sex, because it would be made to seem that the defeat of the ticket meant the defeat for a hundred years of women's chance to be truly equal with men in politics.
Clare Boothe LuceRead
People constantly speak of 'the government' doing this or that, as they might speak of God doing it. But the government is really nothing but a group of men, and usually they are very inferior men. They may have some better man working for them, but they themselves are seldom worthy of any respect.
H. L. MenckenRead
Our form of government can no longer be considered an experiment in politics. Crowned with success, it stands forth an example to the world and exhibits the proudest triumph of reason and philosophy.
John TylerRead