--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think my most important advice is to…" description: "\"I think my most important advice is to understand what are the foundations of a healthy democracy and how we have to engage in citizenship continuously..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce2/barack-obama-17_advice_i-think-my-most-important-advice-is-to-u_339829.jpg" --- # I think my most important advice is to understand what are… ![“I think my most important advice is to understand what are the foundations of a healthy democracy and how we have to engage in citizenship continuously, not just when something upsets us; not just when there's an election or when an issue pops up for a few weeks. It's hard work.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce2/barack-obama-17_advice_i-think-my-most-important-advice-is-to-u_339829.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce2/barack-obama-17_advice_i-think-my-most-important-advice-is-to-u_339829.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce2/barack-obama-17_advice_i-think-my-most-important-advice-is-to-u_339829.jpg) > “I think my most important advice is to understand what are the foundations of a healthy democracy and how we have to engage in citizenship continuously, not just when something upsets us; not just when there's an election or when an issue pops up for a few weeks. It's hard work.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Healthy democracy requires ongoing citizen engagement, not just reactive involvement during crises or elections. **In simple terms:** Democracy works when people stay involved all the time. Key Takeaway Commit to continuous civic participation. Themes democracy citizenship engagement responsibility Mood hopeful determined Type political inspirational When to use this quote - voting - community meetings - policy advocacy - public forums Key Concepts civic duty political participation public discourse social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - How can you stay motivated to engage regularly? - What small actions can sustain democratic health? A Different Perspective People may feel disengaged due to fatigue or distrust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) ## Related quotes > [Women fight for democracy and engage in the world. But they shouldn't try and be copying men and be masculine; they should anchor on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/women-fight-for-democracy-and-engage-in-the-world-but-they-shouldn-t/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [Since an informed citizenry is the basis for a healthy democracy, independent, non-corporate media are more crucial today than ever before](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dahr-jamail/since-an-informed-citizenry-is-the-basis-for-a-healthy-democracy/) Dahr Jamail > [One of the things we're going to have to discuss and debate is how are we striking this balance between the need to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/one-of-the-things-we-re-going-to-have-to-discuss-and-debate-is-how/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Such a small percentage of our population carry the burden of knowing what's really going on in our country's name, and I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-ling/such-a-small-percentage-of-our-population-carry-the-burden-of-knowing/) [Lisa Ling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-ling/) > [“High voter turnout, which some equate with a healthy democracy, has been in Nigeria (and in some other countries) an indication instead of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/high-voter-turnout-which-some-equate-with-a-healthy-democracy-has/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Our long-term dream is for Singapore to have a healthy democracy where there are two or three parties who could form a competent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pritam-singh/our-long-term-dream-is-for-singapore-to-have-a-healthy-democracy/) [Pritam Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pritam-singh/) > [As a matter of principle, we are opposed to destabilising a stable government, and I believe in the norms of healthy democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnath-singh/as-a-matter-of-principle-we-are-opposed-to-destabilising-a-stable/) [Rajnath Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajnath-singh/) > [Appeal for votes should not be made on basis of caste, creed, or communal. In a healthy democracy, this is not expected from any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnath-singh/appeal-for-votes-should-not-be-made-on-basis-of-caste-creed-or/) [Rajnath Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajnath-singh/) > [We all know that election reform takes time. That's because those who have benefited from the system are the ones who fight hardest to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/we-all-know-that-election-reform-takes-time-that-s-because-those-who/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [What we have is two important values in conflict: freedom of speech and our desire for healthy campaigns in a healthy democracy. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/what-we-have-is-two-important-values-in-conflict-freedom-of-speech/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [It's important to know where candidates for president are getting their ideas. Where do these ideas come from, who funds them and who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/it-s-important-to-know-where-candidates-for-president-are-getting/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [A healthy democracy requires a decent society; it requires that we are honorable, generous, tolerant and respectful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-pickering/a-healthy-democracy-requires-a-decent-society-it-requires-that-we-are/) [Charles W. Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-pickering/) > [Anything that keeps a politician humble is healthy for democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kinsley/anything-that-keeps-a-politician-humble-is-healthy-for-democracy/) [Michael Kinsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kinsley/) > [A basic tenet of healthy democracy is open dialogue and transparency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-fenn/a-basic-tenet-of-healthy-democracy-is-open-dialogue-and-transparency/) Peter Fenn > [Non-violent protests are signs of a healthy democracy, not an ailing one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/non-violent-protests-are-signs-of-a-healthy-democracy-not-an-ailing/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) Mak\_786 > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [My relationship with Ibrahimovic was completely neutral. He is not the type of player to approach the younger players and give them advice. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/) [Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/) [Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think my most important advice is to understand what are the foundations of a healthy democracy and how we have to engage in citizenship continuously, not just when something upsets us; not just when there's an election or when an issue pops up for a few weeks. 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