Citizens Quote by John Ralston Saul
“The most powerful force possessed by the individual citizen is her own government. ... Government is the only organized mechanism that makes possible that level of shared disinterest known as the public good.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Unconscious Civilization, John Ralston Saul, 1995
The individual’s greatest power lies in influencing government, which enables collective action for the public good.
In simple terms: Citizens can shape government, which serves the common good.
Key Takeaway
Engage civically to affect change.
Themes
civic engagement
public good
government power
individual agency
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
political
inspirational
When to use this quote
- voting
- community organizing
- policy advocacy
- public service
Key Concepts
democracy
collective action
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- How can individuals effectively influence policy?
- What barriers exist to civic participation?
A Different Perspective
Government may be limited by entrenched interests and bureaucracy.
![“The best defence [for a democracy, for the public good] is aggressiveness, the aggressiveness of the involved citizen. We need to reassert that slow, time-consuming, inefficient, boring process that requires our involvement; it is called 'being a citizen.' The public good is not something that you…” quote by John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/612/john-ralston-saul-3128_aggressiveness_the-best-defence-for-a-democracy-for-the_1365828.jpg)
