The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies. They are the standing army, and the militia, jailors, constables, posse comitatus, etc. In most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral sense; but they put themselves on a level […]
Citizen Quotes
Every good citizen makes his country’s honor his own, and cherishes it not only as precious but as sacred. He is willing to risk his life in its defense and is conscious that he gains protection while he gives it.
Every citizen of the republic ought to consider himself an unofficial policeman, and keep unsalaried watch and ward over the laws and their execution.
The power of citizenship as a shield against oppression was widely known from the example of Paul’s Roman citizenship, which sent the centurion scurrying to his higher-ups with the message: “Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.”
All the citizens of a state cannot be equally powerful, but they may be equally free.
You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for independence.
If the press is not free, if speech is not independent and untrammeled, if the mind is shackled or made impotent through fear, it makes no difference under what form of government you live, you are a subject and not a citizen.
Citizenship comes first today in our crowded world… No man can enjoy the privileges of education and thereafter with a clear conscience break his contract with society. To respect that contract is to be mature, to strengthen it is to be a good citizen, to do more than your share under it is noble.
If you will help run our government in the American way, then there will never be danger of our government running America in the wrong way.
The humblest citizen of all the land, when clad in the armor of a righteous cause is stronger than all the hosts of error.
