Quotes of Note.

One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors. – Plato

“Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself”:
Franklin D. Roosevelt, Inaugural Address, March 4, 1933
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5057/

“The cure for the ills of democracy is more democracy” (Al Smith, governor of new York in 1923

You don’t engage people by trying to engage them.
Michael Walzer ref. http://www.theplanningdesk.com/RenewalCivicEngagementReport.pdf Ontario

And as a general principle, we can be guided on this matter by the words of a former Governor of New York – Alfred E. Smith – who said, and I quote – "All the evils of democracy can be cured by more democracy."

Governments just naturally drive for absolute power, and people just have to be awake to that and resist it, because unless you have checks on power then you go down the slippery slope." The Clerk of the Senate, Harry Evans, quoted by Laurie Oakes

The continuing battle for control between the Executive and the Parliament is a struggle as old as parliamentary democracy itself. It is the Executive’s battle for unfettered power ...Lynne Allison speech 22/2/99

In 1859Lincoln said, "In this country, public opinion is everything."

Indian Wisdom ... 12/1/98 "So live your life, that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide. Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and grovel to none. When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and nothing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision. When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home." Chief Tecumseh, Shawnee Nation. Printed in Native American News April 9, 1997 issue.

When 'the best' has no public advocate of stature, the evil alternatives of ignorance and fear hold easy sway. (Source unknown.)

'If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito.' -Anita Roddick - complements of Yvonne DiVita

'Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the dark place where it leads.' - Erica Jong from Your Democracy website

'True happiness is not attained through self gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.' Helen Keller

"The things that will destroy us are:

• politics without principle;
• pleasure without conscience;
• wealth without work;
• knowledge without character;
• business without morality;
• science without humanity; and
• worship without sacrifice."
Mahatma Gandhi

The struggles waged by nations are weak only when they lack support in the hearts of their women. But when women are moved and lend help, when women, who are by nature calm and controlled, give encouragement and applause, when virtuous and knowledgeable women grace the endeavor with their sweet love, then it is invincible. Jose Marti

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has". Margaret Mead

"A person’s opinion, publicly expressed in word or gesture, is public property to be accepted, criticised, praised or condemned (politely).
A person’s ballot is private property – inviolate. and must be so by impregnable law."