--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be a citizen in a democracy, a human…" description: "\"To be a citizen in a democracy, a human being must be given a healthy start.\" — Eleanor Roosevelt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f10/eleanor-roosevelt-381_citizens_to-be-a-citizen-in-a-democracy-a-human-b_2251354.jpg" --- # To be a citizen in a democracy, a human being must be… ![“To be a citizen in a democracy, a human being must be given a healthy start.” quote by Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f10/eleanor-roosevelt-381_citizens_to-be-a-citizen-in-a-democracy-a-human-b_2251354.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f10/eleanor-roosevelt-381_citizens_to-be-a-citizen-in-a-democracy-a-human-b_2251354.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f10/eleanor-roosevelt-381_citizens_to-be-a-citizen-in-a-democracy-a-human-b_2251354.jpg) > “To be a citizen in a democracy, a human being must be given a healthy start.” [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A democracy thrives when its citizens receive proper health and education from the start. **In simple terms:** Healthy beginnings are essential for democratic citizens. Key Takeaway Invest in early health and education. Themes democracy citizenship health education Mood hopeful determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - schools - public health programs - community outreach Key Concepts social equity human development public policy Questions to Reflect On - What policies ensure equitable health access? - How does early health affect civic participation? A Different Perspective Resources may be limited in impoverished regions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen/) [Citizen Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen-democracy-370344/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-human-505786/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Healthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthy/) [Healthy Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthy-start-884186/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) ## Related quotes > [Bernard Shaw remains the only model we have of what the citizen of a democracy should be: an informed participant in all things we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/bernard-shaw-remains-the-only-model-we-have-of-what-the-citizen-of-a/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [I can't talk about foreign policy like anyone who's spent their life reading and learning foreign policy. But as a citizen in a democracy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-silver/i-can-t-talk-about-foreign-policy-like-anyone-who-s-spent-their-life/) [Ron Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-silver/) > [Political struggle is the most important thing any of us can do as a citizen in a democracy; and that means the old joining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/political-struggle-is-the-most-important-thing-any-of-us-can-do-as-a/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [The government can take smart steps to give all kids the healthy start they need to reach their full potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gillibrand/the-government-can-take-smart-steps-to-give-all-kids-the-healthy/) [Kirsten Gillibrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gillibrand/) > [Vaccines are extremely cost-effective, giving kids a healthy start in life and supporting the economic and educational foundations of entire communities. They directly lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-berkley/vaccines-are-extremely-cost-effective-giving-kids-a-healthy-start-in/) [Seth Berkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-berkley/) > [Our children are our most cherished possession. In their early years, we must make sure they get a healthy start in life. They must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-children-are-our-most-cherished-possession-in-their-early-years/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I come from the era when that continental stuff, the skimmed yogurt and a croissant, was a healthy start to the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mortimer/i-come-from-the-era-when-that-continental-stuff-the-skimmed-yogurt/) [Bob Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mortimer/) > [Our culture is at a critical cusp - a time that requires that we define what it means to be a citizen in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-neelly-bellah/our-culture-is-at-a-critical-cusp-a-time-that-requires-that-we-define/) [Robert Neelly Bellah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-neelly-bellah/) > [The role of citizen in our democracy does not end with your vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-role-of-citizen-in-our-democracy-does-not-end-with-your-vote/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-tyranny-of-a-prince-in-an-oligarchy-is-not-so-dangerous-to-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I'm a citizen in a democracy. To call me an activist would be redundant. It's not a spectator sport. If we all become non-participants,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-m-a-citizen-in-a-democracy-to-call-me-an-activist-would-be/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [Any strategy to promote democracy and human rights must have the fight against corruption at its heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-malinowski/any-strategy-to-promote-democracy-and-human-rights-must-have-the/) [Tom Malinowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-malinowski/) > [We must take proactive steps to promote democracy and human rights abroad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-brownback/we-must-take-proactive-steps-to-promote-democracy-and-human-rights/) [Sam Brownback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-brownback/) > [Education is important even beyond the bounds of the opportunities it gives to the individual; it is a crucial and basic requirement for ensuring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/education-is-important-even-beyond-the-bounds-of-the-opportunities-it/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [We must struggle for creating a democratic system that is dedicated to democracy and human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/we-must-struggle-for-creating-a-democratic-system-that-is-dedicated/) [Akbar Ganji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/) ## More by Eleanor Roosevelt > [My experience has been that work is almost the best way to pull oneself out of the depths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/my-experience-has-been-that-work-is-almost-the-best-way-to-pull/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [experience should teach us that it is always the unexpected that does occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/experience-should-teach-us-that-it-is-always-the-unexpected-that-does/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [To be mature you have to realize what you value most... Not to arrive at a clear understanding of one's own values is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/to-be-mature-you-have-to-realize-what-you-value-most-not-to-arrive-at/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [I'm enormously interested in freedom and retaining the right to have whatever economy we want and to shape it as we want and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/i-m-enormously-interested-in-freedom-and-retaining-the-right-to-have/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [When you look fear in the face, you are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/when-you-look-fear-in-the-face-you-are-able-to-say-to-yourself-i/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [The destiny of human rights is in the hands of all our citizens in all our communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/the-destiny-of-human-rights-is-in-the-hands-of-all-our-citizens-in/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [You can never really live anyone else's life, not even your child's. The influence you exert is through your own life, and what you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/you-can-never-really-live-anyone-else-s-life-not-even-your-child-s/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [“One of the things I believe most intensely is that every child’s why should be answered with care—and with respect. If you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/one-of-the-things-i-believe-most-intensely-is-that-every-child-s-why/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [What we must learn to do is to create unbreakable bonds between the sciences and the humanities. We cannot procrastinate. The world of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/what-we-must-learn-to-do-is-to-create-unbreakable-bonds-between-the/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn't have the power to say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/never-allow-a-person-to-tell-you-no-who-doesn-t-have-the-power-to-say/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively; unless you can choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/do-not-stop-thinking-of-life-as-an-adventure-you-have-no-security/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [We stand today at the threshold of a great event both in the life of the United Nations and in the life of mankind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/we-stand-today-at-the-threshold-of-a-great-event-both-in-the-life-of/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [All of us ... should remember that no amount of flag-waving, pledging allegiance, or fervent singing of the national anthem is evidence that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/all-of-us-should-remember-that-no-amount-of-flag-waving-pledging/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Some friends leave footprints in your heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/some-friends-leave-footprints-in-your-heart/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [If we want a free and peaceful world, if we want to make the deserts bloom and man grow to greater dignity as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/if-we-want-a-free-and-peaceful-world-if-we-want-to-make-the-deserts/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) [Explore all 612 Eleanor Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) ## More Citizen quotes > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [I will be a model prisoner, as I have been a model citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-edwards/i-will-be-a-model-prisoner-as-i-have-been-a-model-citizen/) [Edwin Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-edwards/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [I'm less concerned about whether being a good corporate citizen burnishes a company's reputation. That's just an added benefit. I believe it's a responsibility,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/i-m-less-concerned-about-whether-being-a-good-corporate-citizen/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [As a citizen, hopefully I'm humanist. As an artist, I'm free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/as-a-citizen-hopefully-i-m-humanist-as-an-artist-i-m-free/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [The typical American citizen is the business man. The typical business man is a bad citizen; he is busy. If he is a 'big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/the-typical-american-citizen-is-the-business-man-the-typical-business/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [I am here, a citizen of this country, and I'm saying, 'Hey, the system failed me. I am a good citizen. I contribute to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-am-here-a-citizen-of-this-country-and-i-m-saying-hey-the-system/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [“An anarchist government somehow creates an impression in the hearts of citizens that no one cares.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-anarchist-government-somehow-creates-an-impression-in-the-hearts/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [If the many allegations made to this date are true, then the burglars who broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/if-the-many-allegations-made-to-this-date-are-true-then-the-burglars/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) > [Individuality is the aim of political liberty. By leaving to the citizen as much freedom of action and of being as comports with order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/individuality-is-the-aim-of-political-liberty-by-leaving-to-the/) [James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/) > [Up until the point that you're a citizen, we wanna continue to make sure we understand who you are and why you're here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirstjen-nielsen/up-until-the-point-that-you-re-a-citizen-we-wanna-continue-to-make/) [Kirstjen Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirstjen-nielsen/) > [To be a good citizen, it's important to be able to put yourself in other people's shoes and see the big picture. If everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-pariser/to-be-a-good-citizen-it-s-important-to-be-able-to-put-yourself-in/) [Eli Pariser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-pariser/) > [“I am a citizen of this country,” I declare, “and Mr. Mayor, tonight I will be a citizen of this city when I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ash/i-am-a-citizen-of-this-country-i-declare-and-mr-mayor-tonight-i-will/) [Jerry Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ash/) > [“In a country of ideas, consciousness is its' citizen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/in-a-country-of-ideas-consciousness-is-its-citizen/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth; I am a citizen of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/i-have-no-country-to-fight-for-my-country-is-the-earth-i-am-a-citizen/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) [Browse all 464 Citizen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To be a citizen in a democracy, a human being must be given a healthy start.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eleanor Roosevelt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/to-be-a-citizen-in-a-democracy-a-human-being-must-be-given-a-healthy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Citizen" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/to-be-a-citizen-in-a-democracy-a-human-being-must-be-given-a-healthy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f10/eleanor-roosevelt-381_citizens_to-be-a-citizen-in-a-democracy-a-human-b_2251354.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f10/eleanor-roosevelt-381_citizens_to-be-a-citizen-in-a-democracy-a-human-b_2251354.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f10/eleanor-roosevelt-381_citizens_to-be-a-citizen-in-a-democracy-a-human-b_2251354.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To be a citizen in a democracy, a human being must be given a healthy start.” — Eleanor Roosevelt", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Eleanor Roosevelt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To be a citizen in a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/to-be-a-citizen-in-a-democracy-a-human-being-must-be-given-a-healthy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/to-be-a-citizen-in-a-democracy-a-human-being-must-be-given-a-healthy/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```