--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not only do we have a right to know, we…" description: "\"Not only do we have a right to know, we have a duty to know what our Government is doing in our name. If there's a criticism to be made today, it's tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/walter-cronkite-1759_criticism_not-only-do-we-have-a-right-to-know-we-h_1364226.png" --- # Not only do we have a right to know, we have a duty to… ![“Not only do we have a right to know, we have a duty to know what our Government is doing in our name. If there's a criticism to be made today, it's that the press isn't doing enough to put the pressure on the government to provide information.” quote by Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/walter-cronkite-1759_criticism_not-only-do-we-have-a-right-to-know-we-h_1364226.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/walter-cronkite-1759_criticism_not-only-do-we-have-a-right-to-know-we-h_1364226.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/walter-cronkite-1759_criticism_not-only-do-we-have-a-right-to-know-we-h_1364226.png) > “Not only do we have a right to know, we have a duty to know what our Government is doing in our name. If there's a criticism to be made today, it's that the press isn't doing enough to put the pressure on the government to provide information.” [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Citizens must actively seek and demand transparency from their government, and the media should hold officials accountable. **In simple terms:** Know and demand government transparency; media must pressure officials. Key Takeaway Demand transparency and hold media accountable. Themes civic duty media responsibility government accountability Mood concerned determined Type civic activist When to use this quote - voting - community meetings - journalistic investigations - public petitions Key Concepts Transparency public oversight press freedom Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens ensure media independence? - What tools help demand transparency? A Different Perspective Media may lack resources or independence, limiting pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [Not only do we have a right to know, we have a duty to know what our Government is doing in our name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/not-only-do-we-have-a-right-to-know-we-have-a-duty-to-know-what-our-2/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Voters cannot hold officials responsible if they do not know what government is doing, or which parts of government are doing what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/voters-cannot-hold-officials-responsible-if-they-do-not-know-what/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [The only way we are held accountable is if people know what government is doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-wheeler/the-only-way-we-are-held-accountable-is-if-people-know-what/) [Ted Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-wheeler/) > [The government does not need to know more about what we are doing. We need to know more about what the government is doing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/the-government-does-not-need-to-know-more-about-what-we-are-doing-we/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [I made some changes, I didn't go around telling everybody I was ready to make changes, I just remained me. I may get more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reginald-arvizu/i-made-some-changes-i-didn-t-go-around-telling-everybody-i-was-ready/) [Reginald Arvizu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reginald-arvizu/) > [The problem with criticism today is that is instant, constant, global and permanent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/the-problem-with-criticism-today-is-that-is-instant-constant-global/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [It is a seldom proffered argument as to the advantages of a free press that it has a major function in keeping the government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/it-is-a-seldom-proffered-argument-as-to-the-advantages-of-a-free/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [There is no such thing as duty. If you know that a thing is right, you want to do it. If you don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/there-is-no-such-thing-as-duty-if-you-know-that-a-thing-is-right-you/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [The person who is working on his or her family history fits the description of one who is fulfilling his or her duty. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/the-person-who-is-working-on-his-or-her-family-history-fits-the/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [The best security for people's doing their duty is that they should not know anything else to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-best-security-for-people-s-doing-their-duty-is-that-they-should/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [“They always seemed to know everything, but now there is only me, and it seems I know nothing, not even my duty. How can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/they-always-seemed-to-know-everything-but-now-there-is-only-me-and-it/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“How can I do my duty if I do not know where it lies?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/how-can-i-do-my-duty-if-i-do-not-know-where-it-lies/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [When we want to sink a convoy, we send out an observation plane first... Of course, to observe is not its real duty, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-turing/when-we-want-to-sink-a-convoy-we-send-out-an-observation-plane-first/) [Alan Turing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-turing/) > [“Our religion (the Self’s duty) is to ‘know’ the one who carries out the worldly actions. Doing those activities is not in our hands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/our-religion-the-self-s-duty-is-to-know-the-one-who-carries-out-the/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) ## More by Walter Cronkite > [I'm a liberal, but I'm not biased. Seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-m-a-liberal-but-i-m-not-biased-seriously/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I've gone from the most trusted man in America to one of the most debated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-ve-gone-from-the-most-trusted-man-in-america-to-one-of-the-most/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I do think that the success, although still not complete... in the recognition of equal rights... to all Americans, regardless of color, creed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-do-think-that-the-success-although-still-not-complete-in-the/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [Be kind to an old man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/be-kind-to-an-old-man/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I learned early on that in the real world, the masks of tragedy and comedy adorn the proscenium of every life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-learned-early-on-that-in-the-real-world-the-masks-of-tragedy-and/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [It is clear that military force and our policy of preemption are alone insufficient to make us safe. But help is on the way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/it-is-clear-that-military-force-and-our-policy-of-preemption-are/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [In all my years as a news commentator I was never once, able to tell the truth, about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/in-all-my-years-as-a-news-commentator-i-was-never-once-able-to-tell/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I think people make way too much of ratings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-think-people-make-way-too-much-of-ratings/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I grew my mustache when I was nineteen in order to look older. I never shaved it off even though it overran its usefulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-grew-my-mustache-when-i-was-nineteen-in-order-to-look-older-i-never/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I'm so tired of stories starting, 'Maud Jones was walking her dog down Broadway.' You've got to go over to the back page somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-m-so-tired-of-stories-starting-maud-jones-was-walking-her-dog-down/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [All through my life, I have never disguised my sentiments about politics in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/all-through-my-life-i-have-never-disguised-my-sentiments-about/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [The battle for the airwaves cannot be limited to only those who have the bank accounts to pay for the battle and win it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/the-battle-for-the-airwaves-cannot-be-limited-to-only-those-who-have/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [The successful landing on the moon, very probably, is the best story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/the-successful-landing-on-the-moon-very-probably-is-the-best-story/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [If, as they say, the threat of the hangman's noose has a powerful way of focusing one's attention, the same can be said of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/if-as-they-say-the-threat-of-the-hangman-s-noose-has-a-powerful-way/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [We must strengthen the United Nations as a first step toward a World Government, patterned after our Own Government with a legislature, executive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/we-must-strengthen-the-united-nations-as-a-first-step-toward-a-world/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) [Explore all 210 Walter Cronkite quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) ## More Criticism quotes > [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [I'm more comfortable modelling as a man because I don't get any criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rain-dove/i-m-more-comfortable-modelling-as-a-man-because-i-don-t-get-any/) [Rain Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rain-dove/) > [I don't mind positive criticism, but when it is negative and personal, it is quite hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inzamam-ul-haq/i-don-t-mind-positive-criticism-but-when-it-is-negative-and-personal/) [Inzamam-ul-Haq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inzamam-ul-haq/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Everything is allowable in literature, but what is not allowable in criticism is objection on the grounds of probability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-jacobson/everything-is-allowable-in-literature-but-what-is-not-allowable-in/) [Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/) > [Lots of relationships fail because we spend more time pointing out each other's mistakes and not enough time enjoying each other's company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lots-of-relationships-fail-because-we-spend-more-time-pointing-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [People believe that criticism should be objective, whatever that means, but I really don't understand what people mean by that. I guess if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/people-believe-that-criticism-should-be-objective-whatever-that-means/) [Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/) > [I welcome criticism. I come from a - I wouldn't say mean, but you've got to have tough skin to be in my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saweetie/i-welcome-criticism-i-come-from-a-i-wouldn-t-say-mean-but-you-ve-got/) [Saweetie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saweetie/) > [The good author is he who contemplates without marked joy or excessive sorrow the adventures of his soul amongst criticisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-good-author-is-he-who-contemplates-without-marked-joy-or/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) [Browse all 3,954 Criticism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Not only do we have a right to know, we have a duty to know what our Government is doing in our name. 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