--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is nothing beyond the reach of…" description: "\"There is nothing beyond the reach of ordinary citizens doing the daily work of democracy, and no problem too great to tackle with the power of active c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/joan-claybrook-84322_active_there-is-nothing-beyond-the-reach-of-ord_2205248.jpg" --- # There is nothing beyond the reach of ordinary citizens… ![“There is nothing beyond the reach of ordinary citizens doing the daily work of democracy, and no problem too great to tackle with the power of active citizenship.” quote by Joan Claybrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/joan-claybrook-84322_active_there-is-nothing-beyond-the-reach-of-ord_2205248.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/joan-claybrook-84322_active_there-is-nothing-beyond-the-reach-of-ord_2205248.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/joan-claybrook-84322_active_there-is-nothing-beyond-the-reach-of-ord_2205248.jpg) > “There is nothing beyond the reach of ordinary citizens doing the daily work of democracy, and no problem too great to tackle with the power of active citizenship.” [Joan Claybrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-claybrook/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Active citizens can achieve any goal through everyday democratic participation. **In simple terms:** Ordinary people can solve big problems by being active. Key Takeaway Engage daily in civic actions. Themes citizenship democracy empowerment Mood inspirational determined Type motivational political When to use this quote - community meetings - local elections - volunteer projects - policy petitions Key Concepts collective action civic responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can you make civic involvement a daily habit? - What barriers prevent ordinary citizens from acting? A Different Perspective Success depends on sustained participation, not one‑off efforts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Active](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active/) [Active citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active-citizenship/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Citizens Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens-doing-4422312/) [Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) [Daily work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daily-work/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [No problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-problem/) [Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary/) [Ordinary citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-citizens/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Work Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-democracy-2536225/) ## Related quotes > [Our responsibility as citizens is to keep doing our part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/our-responsibility-as-citizens-is-to-keep-doing-our-part/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Work democracy does not wish to prevent or prohibit anything. Its only intention is the fulfilment of the biological life functions, of love, work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-reich/work-democracy-does-not-wish-to-prevent-or-prohibit-anything-its-only/) [Wilhelm Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-reich/) > [Those of us who decided to work for democracy in Burma made our choice in the conviction that the danger of standing up for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san/those-of-us-who-decided-to-work-for-democracy-in-burma-made-our/) [Aung San](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san/) > [Only a work democracy can create the foundation of genuine freedom. Long experience in sociological disputes leads me to expect that a great many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-reich/only-a-work-democracy-can-create-the-foundation-of-genuine-freedom/) [Wilhelm Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-reich/) > [The good news is I think there are a lot of young people certainly who were involved in my campaigns, and I think continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-good-news-is-i-think-there-are-a-lot-of-young-people-certainly/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I always say there's no ticket of admission for active citizenship. Anybody can get through that gate, and anybody can ask that basic question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/i-always-say-there-s-no-ticket-of-admission-for-active-citizenship/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Industrial capitalism brought representative democracy, but with a weak public mandate and inert citizenry. The digital age offers a new democracy based on public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-tapscott/industrial-capitalism-brought-representative-democracy-but-with-a/) [Don Tapscott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-tapscott/) > [As citizen-activists the world over merge, they can become an irresistible force to create peace and protect the planet. From here will come a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-kucinich/as-citizen-activists-the-world-over-merge-they-can-become-an/) [Dennis Kucinich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-kucinich/) > [Young people must be included from birth. A society that cuts itself off from its youth severs its lifeline; it is condemned to bleed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/young-people-must-be-included-from-birth-a-society-that-cuts-itself-2/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Crucially, I'd like to thank Labour party members up and down the country for sticking with us. For their active citizenship, their willingness to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blunkett/crucially-i-d-like-to-thank-labour-party-members-up-and-down-the/) [David Blunkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blunkett/) > [“Develop flourishing schools … The purpose of the education system should be to create capable and emotionally well-rounded young people who are happy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nic-marks/develop-flourishing-schools-the-purpose-of-the-education-system/) [Nic Marks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nic-marks/) > [Literacy unlocks the door to learning throughout life, is essential to development and health, and opens the way for democratic participation and active citizenship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/literacy-unlocks-the-door-to-learning-throughout-life-is-essential-to/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [I believe in active citizenship, for men and women equally, as a simple matter of right and justice. I believe we will have better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/i-believe-in-active-citizenship-for-men-and-women-equally-as-a-simple/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Active citizenship doesn't just mean running for office or going into politics; it means starting organisations that promote change or solve a problem, pursuing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/active-citizenship-doesn-t-just-mean-running-for-office-or-going-into/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Active citizenship begins with an envisioning of the desired outcome and a conscious application of spiritual principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-kucinich/active-citizenship-begins-with-an-envisioning-of-the-desired-outcome/) [Dennis Kucinich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-kucinich/) ## More by Joan Claybrook > [It's malarkey. When you tell people that the roof crushing in on your head is not the cause of injury, it's your head hitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-claybrook/it-s-malarkey-when-you-tell-people-that-the-roof-crushing-in-on-your/) [Joan Claybrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-claybrook/) > [Leaks are good. There is too much secrecy in our government. Sometimes the government knows about a problem and it takes a leak to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-claybrook/leaks-are-good-there-is-too-much-secrecy-in-our-government-sometimes/) [Joan Claybrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-claybrook/) [Explore all 3 Joan Claybrook quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-claybrook/) ## More Active quotes > [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. Listening, as far as I'm concerned, is certainly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/listening-is-a-very-active-awareness-of-the-coming-together-of-at/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [we need not avoid our active lives, but simply bring to them a new vision and shift of gravity. for in the center we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/we-need-not-avoid-our-active-lives-but-simply-bring-to-them-a-new/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [We in US need active intelligence: people being on the streets, people being able to stop and ask questions of individuals that they suspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/we-in-us-need-active-intelligence-people-being-on-the-streets-people/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I eat healthy most of the time. 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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is nothing beyond the reach of ordinary citizens doing the daily work of democracy, and no problem too great to tackle with the power of active citizenship.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joan Claybrook" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-claybrook/there-is-nothing-beyond-the-reach-of-ordinary-citizens-doing-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Active" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-claybrook/there-is-nothing-beyond-the-reach-of-ordinary-citizens-doing-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/joan-claybrook-84322_active_there-is-nothing-beyond-the-reach-of-ord_2205248.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/joan-claybrook-84322_active_there-is-nothing-beyond-the-reach-of-ord_2205248.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/603/joan-claybrook-84322_active_there-is-nothing-beyond-the-reach-of-ord_2205248.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is nothing beyond the reach of ordinary citizens doing the daily work of democracy, and no problem too…” — Joan Claybrook", "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": "Joan Claybrook", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-claybrook/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is nothing beyond the reach...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-claybrook/there-is-nothing-beyond-the-reach-of-ordinary-citizens-doing-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-claybrook/there-is-nothing-beyond-the-reach-of-ordinary-citizens-doing-the/#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 } } ] } ```