--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Active people to revitalize what is…" description: "\"Active people to revitalize what is really the root of democracy: citizens communicating with each other. Democracy is not just about voting, it's abou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/howard-rheingold-2794_active_active-people-to-revitalize-what-is-real_3179396.png" --- # Active people to revitalize what is really the root of… ![“Active people to revitalize what is really the root of democracy: citizens communicating with each other. Democracy is not just about voting, it's about citizens talking with each other about the issues which concern them. We've lost a great deal of that in the age of the mass media.” quote by Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/howard-rheingold-2794_active_active-people-to-revitalize-what-is-real_3179396.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/howard-rheingold-2794_active_active-people-to-revitalize-what-is-real_3179396.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fb/howard-rheingold-2794_active_active-people-to-revitalize-what-is-real_3179396.png) > “Active people to revitalize what is really the root of democracy: citizens communicating with each other. Democracy is not just about voting, it's about citizens talking with each other about the issues which concern them. We've lost a great deal of that in the age of the mass media.” [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy thrives when citizens engage in direct conversation, not just voting; media has eroded this essential dialogue. **In simple terms:** Democracy needs active citizen conversation beyond voting. Key Takeaway Encourage community dialogue on issues. Themes democracy communication citizen engagement media politics Mood concerned hopeful Type analytical motivational When to use this quote - town hall meetings - online forums - local activism - school debates Key Concepts civic participation public sphere social capital Questions to Reflect On - What barriers prevent people from talking? - How can we rebuild trust in public conversation? A Different Perspective Digital platforms can amplify echo chambers, reducing genuine exchange. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Mass media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass-media/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Voting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting/) ## Related quotes > [In a well-functioning democracy, citizens have the option of voting their political masters out of office. Not so in most companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hamel/in-a-well-functioning-democracy-citizens-have-the-option-of-voting/) [Gary Hamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hamel/) > [When an opinion has taken root in a democracy and established itself in the minds of the majority, it afterward persists by itself, needing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/when-an-opinion-has-taken-root-in-a-democracy-and-established-itself/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [The root of democracy is in mass education. This foundation becomes stronger, when the citizens of tomorrow, our children are also educated about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-root-of-democracy-is-in-mass-education-this-foundation-becomes/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Democracy is not just voting for your leaders; it's really premised upon ordinary citizens understanding the issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/democracy-is-not-just-voting-for-your-leaders-it-s-really-premised/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [Christianity is the root of all democracy, the highest fact in the rights of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/christianity-is-the-root-of-all-democracy-the-highest-fact-in-the/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [This is democracy: the citizens can vote anyone to power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-shah/this-is-democracy-the-citizens-can-vote-anyone-to-power/) [Amit Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-shah/) > [In a democracy, citizens pass judgment on their government, and if they are kept in the dark about what their government is doing, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/in-a-democracy-citizens-pass-judgment-on-their-government-and-if-they/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [When we speak of the origin of western democracy it's precisely here, in this territory that the modern definition of democracy first emerged in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-castro-espin/when-we-speak-of-the-origin-of-western-democracy-it-s-precisely-here/) [Alejandro Castro Espin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-castro-espin/) > [What we have now is democracy without citizens. No one is on the public's side. All the buyers are on the corporations' side. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/what-we-have-now-is-democracy-without-citizens-no-one-is-on-the/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [It is a fundamental principle of democracy that citizens obey the law or incur whatever penalty applies to its breaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-widdecombe/it-is-a-fundamental-principle-of-democracy-that-citizens-obey-the-law/) [Ann Widdecombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-widdecombe/) > [In a democracy, the citizens are supposed to have all the power, and the government is supposed to be the means by which the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-paglen/in-a-democracy-the-citizens-are-supposed-to-have-all-the-power-and/) [Trevor Paglen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-paglen/) > [What I would say is that in its first iteration, Extinction Rebellion is really about democracy, by calling in for these new democratic forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-bradbrook/what-i-would-say-is-that-in-its-first-iteration-extinction-rebellion/) [Gail Bradbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-bradbrook/) > [Democracy is just a word when the people are starving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/democracy-is-just-a-word-when-the-people-are-starving/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [The degree to which campaigns have become dominated by marketing is breaking the spirit of democracy, and we're all just so sick of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weinberger/the-degree-to-which-campaigns-have-become-dominated-by-marketing-is/) [David Weinberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weinberger/) > [Democracy is just a word. You have to give it meaning. The US is not a democracy. Most Americans do not vote. We haven't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsey-clark/democracy-is-just-a-word-you-have-to-give-it-meaning-the-us-is-not-a/) [Ramsey Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsey-clark/) ## More by Howard Rheingold > [Attention is a limited resource, so pay attention to where you pay attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/attention-is-a-limited-resource-so-pay-attention-to-where-you-pay/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [What person doesn't search online about their disease after they are diagnosed?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/what-person-doesn-t-search-online-about-their-disease-after-they-are/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [You can't pick up the telephone and say, 'Connect me with someone else who has a kid with leukemia.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/you-can-t-pick-up-the-telephone-and-say-connect-me-with-someone-else/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [We like technology because we don't have to talk to anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/we-like-technology-because-we-don-t-have-to-talk-to-anybody/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [Attention is the fundamental instrument we use for learning, thinking, communicating, deciding, yet neither parents nor schools spend any time helping young people learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/attention-is-the-fundamental-instrument-we-use-for-learning-thinking/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [One thing we didn't know in 1996 is that it's very, very difficult, if not impossible, to sustain a culture with online advertising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/one-thing-we-didn-t-know-in-1996-is-that-it-s-very-very-difficult-if/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [Any virtual community that works, works because people put in some time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/any-virtual-community-that-works-works-because-people-put-in-some-time/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [There actually are buildings that existed in cyberspace before they built it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/there-actually-are-buildings-that-existed-in-cyberspace-before-they/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [The world is restructuring, and all of the enemies that used to exist are kind of gone, so now they are looking out for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/the-world-is-restructuring-and-all-of-the-enemies-that-used-to-exist/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [Kerouac was this kid who exemplified something happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/kerouac-was-this-kid-who-exemplified-something-happening/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [Of course, with agriculture came the first big civilizations, the first cities built of mud and brick, the first empires. And it was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/of-course-with-agriculture-came-the-first-big-civilizations-the-first/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [Its not a global village, but we're in a highly interconnected globe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/its-not-a-global-village-but-we-re-in-a-highly-interconnected-globe/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [People's behavior will change with technology. I know very few young people who can't type out a text message on their phone with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/people-s-behavior-will-change-with-technology-i-know-very-few-young/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [I'm somebody who seems to stumble into things 10 or 20 years before the rest of the world does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/i-m-somebody-who-seems-to-stumble-into-things-10-or-20-years-before/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [There are always a few people who are hyper-normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/there-are-always-a-few-people-who-are-hyper-normal/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) [Explore all 150 Howard Rheingold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) ## More Active quotes > [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. 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Whole foods are the best for you when you are super active, so I get plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witney-carson/i-eat-healthy-most-of-the-time-whole-foods-are-the-best-for-you-when/) [Witney Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witney-carson/) > [Art shows us how to see things that are constructive and good, and to be an active part of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/art-shows-us-how-to-see-things-that-are-constructive-and-good-and-to/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [Love, like truth and beauty, is concrete. Love is not fundamentally a sweet feeling; not, at heart, a matter of sentiment, attachment, or being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-heyward/love-like-truth-and-beauty-is-concrete-love-is-not-fundamentally-a/) [Carter Heyward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-heyward/) > [Studying Sol's interior by looking for analogous patterns on its incandescent face is known as helioseismology, an active - if largely unpronounceable - research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/studying-sol-s-interior-by-looking-for-analogous-patterns-on-its/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. It makes its own limited models of things; operating upon these indices or variables to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/science-manipulates-things-and-gives-up-living-in-them-it-makes-its/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [I stayed in L.A. long enough to get on my feet, and then I moved back to New York. The reason I moved here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/i-stayed-in-l-a-long-enough-to-get-on-my-feet-and-then-i-moved-back/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [The answer to any challenge you are having has nothing to do with God's willingness to help. It has to do with your acceptance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/the-answer-to-any-challenge-you-are-having-has-nothing-to-do-with-god/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [Pete Townsend for me was a huge influence. Because essentially they were a three-piece band and the way he structured his chords and took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/pete-townsend-for-me-was-a-huge-influence-because-essentially-they/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) > [There is an enemy. There is an intelligent, active, malign force working against us. Step one is to recognize this. This recognition alone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/there-is-an-enemy-there-is-an-intelligent-active-malign-force-working/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [Few, if any, creatures are equally active all night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/few-if-any-creatures-are-equally-active-all-night/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [You need to enjoy yourself and just get into the routine of keeping fit and enjoying being active. That's always easier once you've made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-brownlee/you-need-to-enjoy-yourself-and-just-get-into-the-routine-of-keeping/) [Alistair Brownlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-brownlee/) Browse all 2,212 Active quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Active people to revitalize what is really the root of democracy: citizens communicating with each other. Democracy is not just about voting, it's about citizens talking with each other about the issues which concern them. 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