--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy is not just voting for your…" description: "\"Democracy is not just voting for your leaders; it's really premised upon ordinary citizens understanding the issues.\" — Howard Rheingold" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/howard-rheingold-2794_citizens_democracy-is-not-just-voting-for-your-le_2911570.jpg" --- # Democracy is not just voting for your leaders; it's really… ![“Democracy is not just voting for your leaders; it's really premised upon ordinary citizens understanding the issues.” quote by Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/howard-rheingold-2794_citizens_democracy-is-not-just-voting-for-your-le_2911570.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/howard-rheingold-2794_citizens_democracy-is-not-just-voting-for-your-le_2911570.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/882/howard-rheingold-2794_citizens_democracy-is-not-just-voting-for-your-le_2911570.jpg) > “Democracy is not just voting for your leaders; it's really premised upon ordinary citizens understanding the issues.” [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 depends on informed citizens, not just voting. **In simple terms:** Citizens must understand issues. Key Takeaway Educate yourself on civic matters. Themes democracy citizen engagement education Mood thoughtful motivational Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - elections - community meetings - online forums - public debates Key Concepts civic literacy participation Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay informed? - What sources do you trust? A Different Perspective Information overload can hinder understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Citizens Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens-understanding-4195362/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-just-1642485/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leaders Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders-really-1392126/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary/) [Ordinary citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-citizens/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Voting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting/) ## Related quotes > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/active-people-to-revitalize-what-is-really-the-root-of-democracy/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [There are these two strands, the Dionysian and the Appollonian, and in the same theater grew up from these folks who during the day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/there-are-these-two-strands-the-dionysian-and-the-appollonian-and-in/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [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/) > [Ordinary citizens are obliged and, if need be, compelled by force to meet their commitments. 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Rolling up their sleeves. Being one with the front-line colleagues who get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prakah-iyer/great-leaders-are-really-all-about-this-leading-from-the-front/) [Prakah Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prakah-iyer/) > [I feel for today's leaders. I really do. They got to where they are by doing a series of jobs exceptionally well. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-d-anthony/i-feel-for-today-s-leaders-i-really-do-they-got-to-where-they-are-by/) [Scott D. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-d-anthony/) > [There are a lot of people who call themselves teachers or leaders, but they're really just propagandists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/there-are-a-lot-of-people-who-call-themselves-teachers-or-leaders-but/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [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. 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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 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. 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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. 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