--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a democracy, if people don't have…" description: "\"In a democracy, if people don't have accurate information, how can they be active citizens? How can they be part of the debate? And if you are facing p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d89/hillary-clinton-51_citizens_in-a-democracy-if-people-don-t-have-accu_3101789.jpg" --- # In a democracy, if people don't have accurate information… ![“In a democracy, if people don't have accurate information, how can they be active citizens? How can they be part of the debate? And if you are facing powerful forces on the right and in Trump administration who want to create an alternative reality that feeds into their objectives for our country…” quote by Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d89/hillary-clinton-51_citizens_in-a-democracy-if-people-don-t-have-accu_3101789.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d89/hillary-clinton-51_citizens_in-a-democracy-if-people-don-t-have-accu_3101789.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d89/hillary-clinton-51_citizens_in-a-democracy-if-people-don-t-have-accu_3101789.jpg) > “In a democracy, if people don't have accurate information, how can they be active citizens? How can they be part of the debate? And if you are facing powerful forces on the right and in Trump administration who want to create an alternative reality that feeds into their objectives for our country, you more than ever need the press to cut through that, and to be as accurate as possible.” [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Accurate information is essential for citizens to engage meaningfully in democracy and counter misinformation from powerful actors. **In simple terms:** Citizens need reliable facts to participate and resist false narratives. Key Takeaway Seek trustworthy sources and support independent media. Themes democracy media citizenship Mood concerned determined Type political informative When to use this quote - voting - public debate - media consumption - activism Key Concepts information integrity political power public discourse Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify the credibility of your news sources? - What role should government play in ensuring media accuracy? A Different Perspective Misinformation can still spread despite best efforts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Active Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active-citizens-3986665/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Citizens Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens-debate-5378799/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Trump Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump-administration/) ## Related quotes > [What motivates me is the desire to bring up a whole new generation of active citizens who believe in peace and social justice and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/what-motivates-me-is-the-desire-to-bring-up-a-whole-new-generation-of/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [It may not be what you would've chosen, but we all have a responsibility to be active citizens and shape our system and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rice/it-may-not-be-what-you-would-ve-chosen-but-we-all-have-a/) [Susan Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rice/) > [Sixty years of Western nations excusing and accommodating the lack of freedom in the Middle East did nothing to make us safe because in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/sixty-years-of-western-nations-excusing-and-accommodating-the-lack-of/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Frequent worshippers are also significantly more active citizens. They are more likely to belong to community organizations, especially those concerned with young people, health,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sacks/frequent-worshippers-are-also-significantly-more-active-citizens-they/) [Jonathan Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sacks/) > [What is this much repeated phrase 'active citizen' supposed to mean? The active citizens are the ones who took the Bastille.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-desmoulins/what-is-this-much-repeated-phrase-active-citizen-supposed-to-mean-the/) [Camille Desmoulins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-desmoulins/) > [I don't control the schedule of the networks. We have three of our debates that are on network television, and those are on Saturday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-don-t-control-the-schedule-of-the-networks-we-have-three-of-our/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Rebuilding our communities where the police and citizens all see themselves as being on the same side will require contributions from all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/rebuilding-our-communities-where-the-police-and-citizens-all-see/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [What Donald Trump is proposing with these massive tax cuts will result in a $20 trillion additional national debt. That will have dire consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/what-donald-trump-is-proposing-with-these-massive-tax-cuts-will/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [You know, compromise can't be a dirty word in American politics. There's plenty to argue about. Trump administration is still talking about ridiculous tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/you-know-compromise-can-t-be-a-dirty-word-in-american-politics-there/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The writer’s job is to write with rigor, with commitment, to defend what they believe with all the talent they have. I think that’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/the-writer-s-job-is-to-write-with-rigor-with-commitment-to-defend/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Tax reduction has an almost irresistible appeal to the politician, and it is no doubt also gratifying to the citizen. It means more dollars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-gardner/tax-reduction-has-an-almost-irresistible-appeal-to-the-politician-and/) [John W. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-gardner/) > [I have one of the strongest records in fighting for senior citizens. I led the effort to prevent cuts to Social Security. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-have-one-of-the-strongest-records-in-fighting-for-senior-citizens-i/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [No one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/no-one-is-born-a-good-citizen-no-nation-is-born-a-democracy-rather/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The Obama administration seems to be following what might be called 'the Detroit pattern increasing taxes, harassing businesses, and pandering to unions. In the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-obama-administration-seems-to-be-following-what-might-be-called/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) ## More by Hillary Clinton > [When it comes to bullying small businesses, Donald Trump is the poster boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/when-it-comes-to-bullying-small-businesses-donald-trump-is-the-poster/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I'm going to do everything I can to get myself elected, but that's not enough. I'm going to try to help move the Senate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-m-going-to-do-everything-i-can-to-get-myself-elected-but-that-s-not/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I think we have to take a look at corporate law. We have to take a look at the incentives that we can perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-think-we-have-to-take-a-look-at-corporate-law-we-have-to-take-a/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I am somewhat influenced by the years that I've spent trying to actually get things done, whether it was reforming education in Arkansas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-somewhat-influenced-by-the-years-that-i-ve-spent-trying-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We know in New York we have several million at any one time who are in New York illegally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-know-in-new-york-we-have-several-million-at-any-one-time-who-are/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I have always believed that women are not victims, we are agents of change, we are drivers of progress, we are makers of peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-have-always-believed-that-women-are-not-victims-we-are-agents-of/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I have clearly said we faced terrorist enemies who use Islam to justify slaughtering innocent people and we have to stop them and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-have-clearly-said-we-faced-terrorist-enemies-who-use-islam-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [If I had lost the popular vote but won the electoral college and in my first day as president the intelligence community came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-had-lost-the-popular-vote-but-won-the-electoral-college-and-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We now have power under the Dodd-Frank legislation to break up banks. And I've said I will use that power if they pose a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-now-have-power-under-the-dodd-frank-legislation-to-break-up-banks/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I am not going to make promises I can't keep. I am not going to talk about big ideas like single-payer and then not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-not-going-to-make-promises-i-can-t-keep-i-am-not-going-to-talk/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [It's important to recognize that expanding the circle of opportunity and increasing the democratic potential of our own society, as well as those across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-s-important-to-recognize-that-expanding-the-circle-of-opportunity/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We're living in a technological world. You cannot tell me we can't do a better job getting that information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-re-living-in-a-technological-world-you-cannot-tell-me-we-can-t-do/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I do not think homosexuality is immoral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-do-not-think-homosexuality-is-immoral/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We need to have more second chance programs. I'm glad that we're ending private prisons in the federal system; I want to see them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-need-to-have-more-second-chance-programs-i-m-glad-that-we-re/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [A nuclear-weapons armed Iran is not in anyone's human-rights interests. That is a direct threat to the lives and the livelihoods and the stability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/a-nuclear-weapons-armed-iran-is-not-in-anyone-s-human-rights/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) [Explore all 1,911 Hillary Clinton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) ## More Citizens 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 language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [“The police ultimately pay the price for poor customer service when citizens become fearful of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-police-ultimately-pay-the-price-for-poor-customer-service-when/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [No greater victory can be won by citizens or soldiers than to transform temporary foes into permanent friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/no-greater-victory-can-be-won-by-citizens-or-soldiers-than-to/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) > [My dreams were always small and puny. All I ever needed was a little house with a little picket fence by the sea. Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/my-dreams-were-always-small-and-puny-all-i-ever-needed-was-a-little/) [Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/) > [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 think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [Without the ability to talk about government power, there's no way for citizens to make sure this power isn't being misused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/without-the-ability-to-talk-about-government-power-there-s-no-way-for/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What I will stand up for is what I think is right and for the best interests of the citizens of the state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-judge/what-i-will-stand-up-for-is-what-i-think-is-right-and-for-the-best/) [Patty Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-judge/) [Browse all 4,189 Citizens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In a democracy, if people don't have accurate information, how can they be active citizens? 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