---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The better-informed we are, the more we…"
description: "\"The better-informed we are, the more we can do to make sure what's happening is in our interests and is accountable to us.\" — Rebecca MacKinnon"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8e/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_accountable_the-better-informed-we-are-the-more-we-c_1156016.png"
---

#  The better-informed we are, the more we can do to make…

![“The better-informed we are, the more we can do to make sure what's happening is in our interests and is accountable to us.” quote by Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8e/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_accountable_the-better-informed-we-are-the-more-we-c_1156016.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8e/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_accountable_the-better-informed-we-are-the-more-we-c_1156016.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8e/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_accountable_the-better-informed-we-are-the-more-we-c_1156016.png)

> “The better-informed we are, the more we can do to make sure what's happening is in our interests and is accountable to us.”

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Being well-informed empowers citizens to shape policies and demand accountability.

**In simple terms:** Knowledge lets people protect their interests.

Key Takeaway

Stay informed, act responsibly.

Themes

civic engagement media literacy accountability

Mood

concerned determined

Type

political activist

When to use this quote

- voting
- community organizing
- social media monitoring
- public hearings

Key Concepts

democracy empowerment information asymmetry

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you verify information before acting?
- What sources do you trust?

A Different Perspective

Information overload can hinder action.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Accountable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountable/) [Better Informed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-informed-778837/) [Happening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happening/) [Informed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/informed/) [Informed Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/informed-make-3288931/) [Interests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interests/) [Interests Accountable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interests-accountable-3288930/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Sure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sure/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/)

## Related quotes

> [I want to be better informed with regard to ichthyology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-white/i-want-to-be-better-informed-with-regard-to-ichthyology/)

[Gilbert White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-white/)

> [It is better to be un-informed than ill-informed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-duckworth/it-is-better-to-be-un-informed-than-ill-informed/)

[Keith Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-duckworth/)

> [I want to encourage all parents to read to their children because it helps them to become better educated, better informed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-white/i-want-to-encourage-all-parents-to-read-to-their-children-because-it/)

[Jesse White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-white/)

> [As a function of the easy access to information provided by the Internet, and the ease with which it can be shared thanks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/as-a-function-of-the-easy-access-to-information-provided-by-the/)

[Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/)

> [I'm much better informed than Mr. Clarke ever was about the nature of the intelligence that was available again Osama bin Laden and which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scheuer/i-m-much-better-informed-than-mr-clarke-ever-was-about-the-nature-of/)

[Michael Scheuer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scheuer/)

> [Let your intimate friends be chosen from such as are better informed than yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schumann/let-your-intimate-friends-be-chosen-from-such-as-are-better-informed/)

[Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/)

> [As patients and consumers, we are better informed today about our health care than any previous generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-hewitt/as-patients-and-consumers-we-are-better-informed-today-about-our/)

[Patricia Hewitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-hewitt/)

> [Children who use the Internet are much better informed than when I was young. Use this to your advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miep-gies/children-who-use-the-internet-are-much-better-informed-than-when-i/)

[Miep Gies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miep-gies/)

> [“One of the crucial traits of real leaders in a democracy is the ability to help people become better informed so that society can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-w-lewis/one-of-the-crucial-traits-of-real-leaders-in-a-democracy-is-the/)

[William W. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-w-lewis/)

> [“As expected, the effect of facial competence on voting is about three times larger for information-poor and TV-prone voters than for others who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/as-expected-the-effect-of-facial-competence-on-voting-is-about-three/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [Most people are oblivious to F.A. Hayek's insight that the critical information needed to run an economy - or even 15 percent of one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stossel/most-people-are-oblivious-to-f-a-hayek-s-insight-that-the-critical/)

[John Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stossel/)

> [A Christian isn't necessarily any nicer than anybody else, just better informed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/a-christian-isn-t-necessarily-any-nicer-than-anybody-else-just-better/)

[Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/)

> [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [Thanks to the Internet in general and social media in particular, the Chinese people now have a mechanism to hold authorities accountable for wrongdoing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/thanks-to-the-internet-in-general-and-social-media-in-particular-the/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [There is a broad movement that has been holding companies accountable on human rights for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/there-is-a-broad-movement-that-has-been-holding-companies-accountable/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

## More by Rebecca MacKinnon

> [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [In January 2012, Google Plus started to roll out support for nicknames and pseudonyms, but those registering with a name other than their real-life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/in-january-2012-google-plus-started-to-roll-out-support-for-nicknames/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [It becomes dangerous for somebody who doesn't want their boss to know their sexual preference to use online networks to push for laws supporting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/it-becomes-dangerous-for-somebody-who-doesn-t-want-their-boss-to-know/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [If high-tech companies are serious about doing the right thing, they can join together and lobby for more transparency and accountability in the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-high-tech-companies-are-serious-about-doing-the-right-thing-they/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [Any new legal measures, or cooperative arrangements between government and companies meant to keep people from organizing violence or criminal actions, must not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/any-new-legal-measures-or-cooperative-arrangements-between-government/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [Every news organization needs a social media strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/every-news-organization-needs-a-social-media-strategy/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [Professional camera crews are rarely there when a bomb goes off or a rocket lands. They usually show up afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/professional-camera-crews-are-rarely-there-when-a-bomb-goes-off-or-a/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [Google's entire business model and its planning for the future are banking on an open and free Internet. And it will not succeed if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/google-s-entire-business-model-and-its-planning-for-the-future-are/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [A number of countries, including Russia and China, have put forward proposals to regulate aspects of the Internet like 'crime' and 'security' that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/a-number-of-countries-including-russia-and-china-have-put-forward/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [You don't have to be a nerd or a programmer or a network engineer to make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-nerd-or-a-programmer-or-a-network-engineer-to/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [A moral argument about whether censorship is good or bad deteriorates quickly into accusations about who is more or less patriotic, moral, pious, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/a-moral-argument-about-whether-censorship-is-good-or-bad-deteriorates/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [There's a real contradiction that's difficult to explain to the West and the outside world about China and about the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/there-s-a-real-contradiction-that-s-difficult-to-explain-to-the-west/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [The relationship between citizens and government is increasingly mediated through the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/the-relationship-between-citizens-and-government-is-increasingly/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [Consistently, Baidu has censored politically sensitive search results much more thoroughly than Google.cn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/consistently-baidu-has-censored-politically-sensitive-search-results/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [Human rights in cyberspace are really no different from rights in the physical world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/human-rights-in-cyberspace-are-really-no-different-from-rights-in-the/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

[Explore all 206 Rebecca MacKinnon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

## More Accountable quotes

> [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [I don't have a boss or PR person, so I'm accountable to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-don-t-have-a-boss-or-pr-person-so-i-m-accountable-to-no-one/)

[Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/)

> [Be aware and hold the government accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-chauhan/be-aware-and-hold-the-government-accountable/)

[Mohit Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-chauhan/)

> [I'm against unanswerable concentrations of power, whether that be government or private industry or religious figures - anybody who is not accountable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/i-m-against-unanswerable-concentrations-of-power-whether-that-be/)

[Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/)

> [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/)

[Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/)

> [When you're in a relationship, please believe that you are held accountable for every feeling felt, word spoken, and heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/when-you-re-in-a-relationship-please-believe-that-you-are-held/)

[Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/)

> [We will make government more accountable. We will cut fraud, waste and abuse in our budget. But we will not do it by leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/we-will-make-government-more-accountable-we-will-cut-fraud-waste-and/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

> [It means a lot. It means I'm accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/champ-bailey/it-means-a-lot-it-means-i-m-accountable/)

[Champ Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/champ-bailey/)

> [If you can't hold yourself accountable and get your job done then you're not going to be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-amendola/if-you-can-t-hold-yourself-accountable-and-get-your-job-done-then-you/)

[Danny Amendola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-amendola/)

> [There are multi-scatterings of various and associated issues and concerns, but it all boils down to accountable people versus those unwilling to be accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/there-are-multi-scatterings-of-various-and-associated-issues-and/)

[Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/)

> [If you're going to give people authority and hold them responsible and ultimately accountable for their performance, you've got to get out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-lerner/if-you-re-going-to-give-people-authority-and-hold-them-responsible/)

[Randy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-lerner/)

> [We all have to hold each other accountable and point that behavior out to each other in a kind way. I guess what I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-ellis/we-all-have-to-hold-each-other-accountable-and-point-that-behavior/)

[Mary Elizabeth Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-ellis/)

> [“The mistakes you make now count. Not for everything, and not forever. But they do matter, and they shape you...make your choices well. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/the-mistakes-you-make-now-count-not-for-everything-and-not-forever/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [In the church we have to deliberately let ourselves be transparent and accountable to others. We're a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/in-the-church-we-have-to-deliberately-let-ourselves-be-transparent/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [I feel like I'm held more accountable to stay healthy now because now I'm a role model to young girls to not have eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/i-feel-like-i-m-held-more-accountable-to-stay-healthy-now-because-now/)

[Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/)

[Browse all 351 Accountable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accountable/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The better-informed we are, the more we can do to make sure what's happening is in our interests and is accountable to us.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rebecca MacKinnon"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/the-better-informed-we-are-the-more-we-can-do-to-make-sure-what-s/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Accountable"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/the-better-informed-we-are-the-more-we-can-do-to-make-sure-what-s/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8e/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_accountable_the-better-informed-we-are-the-more-we-c_1156016.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8e/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_accountable_the-better-informed-we-are-the-more-we-c_1156016.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8e/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_accountable_the-better-informed-we-are-the-more-we-c_1156016.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The better-informed we are, the more we can do to make sure what's happening is in our interests and is…” — Rebecca MacKinnon",
                "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": "Rebecca MacKinnon",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The better-informed we are, the more...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/the-better-informed-we-are-the-more-we-can-do-to-make-sure-what-s/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/the-better-informed-we-are-the-more-we-can-do-to-make-sure-what-s/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
