An informed citizenry is at the heart of a dynamic democracy.
Interpretation
A knowledgeable population is essential for a vibrant democracy.
Thomas Jefferson emphasizes the importance of an informed citizenry for the functioning and vitality of a democratic society. Without awareness and knowledge, citizens cannot effectively participate in governance or make decisions that influence their community and country, which undermines the democratic process.
In practice
In a speech about civic engagement, one might say, 'As Thomas Jefferson noted, an informed citizenry is at the heart of a dynamic democracy.'
The firmness with which the (American) people have withstood the... abuses of the press, the discernment they have manifested between truth and falsehood, show that they may safely be trusted to hear everything true and false and to form a correct judgment between them.
I, place economy among the first & most important republican virtues, & public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared
βWe must make our choice between economy and liberty or confusion and servitude...If we run into such debts, we must be taxed in our meat and drink, in our necessities and comforts, in our labor and in our amusements...if we can prevent the government from wasting the labor of the people, under the pretense of caring for them, they will be happy.
Very many and very meritorious were the worthy patriots who assisted in bringing back our government to its republican tack. To preserve it in that, will require unremitting vigilance.
A nation, as a society, forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society.
Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.
Politics is the entertainment branch of industry.
The effort to calculate exactly what the voters want at each particular moment leaves out of account the fact that when they are troubled the thing the voters most want is to be told what to want.
Very big business is in bed with very big government in Washington, and has more to do with what the average person sees, hears and reads than most people know.
Those that deem politics beneath their dignity are doomed to be governed by those of lesser talents.
One person alone can't do anything as important as bringing genuine democracy to a country.
Truly, if you can't cover a five-car pile-up on Route 128, you should not be covering a presidential campaign.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.