We've got to figure out a way that we give a private sphere for our public leaders. We're not gonna get the best people in public life if we don't do that.
Journalism still, in a democracy, is the essential force to get the public educated and mobilized to take action on behalf of our ancient ideals.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Journalism is vital for educating the public and motivating them to uphold democratic values.
This quote emphasizes the crucial role that journalism plays in a democratic society. It asserts that journalism serves as a powerful mechanism for educating citizens and encouraging them to take action to preserve and promote the foundational ideals of their democracy, which have stood the test of time. In doing so, journalism not only informs but also empowers individuals to engage actively with the principles that support their society's progress and values.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a public speech advocating for press freedom, you could reference this quote to highlight the importance of journalism in democracy.
More from Doris Kearns Goodwin
All quotes βOnce a president gets to the White House, the only audience that is left that really matters is history.
That is what leadership is all about: staking your ground ahead of where opinion is and convincing people, not simply following the popular opinion of the moment.
I am a historian. With the exception of being a wife and mother, it is who I am. And there is nothing I take more seriously.
Obama does seem to have what both FDR and Lincoln had, which is the recognition that you have to hold back at times and then wait to come forward.
Those who knew Lincoln described him as an extraordinarily funny man. Humor was an essential aspect of his temperament. He laughed, he explained, so he did not weep.
Similar quotes
College is something you complete. Life is something you experience.
Teach and practice, practice and teach - that is all we have; that is all we are good for; that is all we ever ought to do.
Strange questions are the more interesting ones. Children by and large don't try to trip you up... they want to find out how you do this funny thing that you do... if they've loved a story they love to know how it started.
Students who acquire large debts putting themselves through school are unlikely to think about changing society. When you trap people in a system of debt, they can't afford the time to think.
Reading is not simply an intellectual pursuit but an emotional and spiritual one. It lights the candle in the hurricane lamp of self; that's why it survives
Now, the education of our children is of national concern, and if they are not educated properly, it is a national calamity.