Citizens Quote by John Ralston Saul
“Elites quite naturally define as the most important and admired qualities for a citizen those on which they themselves have concentrated.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Unconscious Civil Servant, 1995
Elites define citizen virtues based on their own interests, not universal standards.
In simple terms: Elites project self‑interest onto society.
Question whose values are being promoted.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy making
- civic education
- leadership development
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Who decides what qualities are truly valuable?
- How can citizens influence these definitions?
Elites may also have genuine public‑spirit motives.