Mastodawn

here's how to vote in good #citizenry #fedizens
via https://mastodon.nl/@elziax/116248937296420214

There are greater forces and means for attacking than for defending the State. The reason is, that reckless and abandoned men need only a nod to set them moving, and their own natural disposition incites them against the State; while honest folk somehow or other show less activity, neglect the beginnings of movements, and are aroused to action at the last moment only by simple necessity; so that sometimes, owing to their hesitation and indolence, while they wish still to enjoy peace even with the loss of dignity, through their own fault they lose both.

[Maioribus praesidiis et copiis oppugnatur res publica quam defenditur, propterea quod audaces homines et perditi nutu impelluntur et ipsi etiam sponte sua contra rem publicam incitantur, boni nescio quo modo tardiores sunt et principiis rerum neglectis ad extremum ipsa denique necessitate excitantur, ita ut non numquam cunctatione ac tarditate, dum otium volunt etiam sine dignitate retinere, ipsi utrumque amittant.]

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher
Pro Sestio [For Publius Sestius], ch. 47 / sec. 100 (56-02 BC) [tr. Gardner (Loeb) (1958)]

More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/cicero-marcus-tulliu…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #cicero #prosestio #citizenry #Constitution #democracy #humannature #incitement #insurrection #participation #procrastination #recklessness #republic #sedition #state #troublemakers

Cicero, Marcus Tullius - Pro Sestio [For Publius Sestius], ch. 47 / sec. 100 (56-02 BC) [tr. Gardner (Loeb) (1958)] | WIST Quotations

WIST Quotations

WIST Quotations Mar 4

A quotation from Hannah Arendt

As citizens, we must prevent wrongdoing because the world in which we all live, wrong-doer, wrong sufferer and spectator, is at stake.

Hannah Arendt (1906-1975) German-American philosopher, political theorist
The Life of the Mind, Part 1, sec. 3, ch. 18 (1977)

More about this quote: wist.info/arendt-hannah/46319/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #hannaharendt #citizenry #civicduty #evildoer #humanity #injustice #protection #society #victim #world #wrongdoer #wrongdoing

Arendt, Hannah - The Life of the Mind, Part 1, sec. 3, ch. 18 (1977) | WIST Quotations

As citizens, we must prevent wrongdoing because the world in which we all live, wrong-doer, wrong sufferer and spectator, is at stake.

WIST Quotations

WIST Quotations Feb 18

A quotation from Franklin Roosevelt

Let us not be afraid to help each other — let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and Senators and Congressmen and Government officials but the voters of this country.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882–1945) American lawyer, politician, statesman, US President (1933–1945)
Speech (1938-07-08), Northwest Territory Sesquicentennial, Muskingum Park, Marietta, Ohio

More about this quote: wist.info/roosevelt-franklin-d…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #fdr #franklinroosevelt #franklindroosevelt #franklindelanoroosevelt #ballot #citizenry #democracy #government #helping #mutualassistance #mutualsupport #representation #rule #sovereignty #voters #voting

Roosevelt, Franklin Delano - Speech (1938-07-08), Northwest Territory Sesquicentennial, Muskingum Park, Marietta, Ohio | WIST Quotations

Let us not be afraid to help each other -- let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and Senators and Congressmen and Government officials but the voters of this country.

WIST Quotations

WIST Quotations Has Moved!Nov 6

A quotation from Teddy Roosevelt

In a self-governing country the people are called citizens. Under a despotism or autocracy the people are called subjects. This is because in a free country the people are themselves sovereign, while in a despotic country the people are under a sovereign. In the United States the people are all citizens, including its President. The rest of them are fellow citizens of the President. In Germany the people are all subjects of the Kaiser. They are not his fellow citizens, they are his subjects.
This is the essential difference between the United States and Germany, but the difference would vanish if we now submitted to the foolish or traitorous persons who endeavor to make it a crime to tell the truth about the Administration when the Administration is guilty of incompetence or other shortcomings. Such an endeavor is itself a crime against the nation. Those who take such an attitude are guilty of moral treason of a kind both abject and dangerous.

Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) American politician, statesman, conservationist, writer, US President (1901-1909)
Essay (1918-04-06), “Citizens or Subjects?” Kansas City Star

More info about this quote: wist.info/roosevelt-theodore/8…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #teddyroosevelt #theodoreroosevelt #lesemajeste #freespeech #freedomofspeech #freepress #freedomofthepress #censorship #citizenry #criticism #freecountry #president #sovereignty

Essay (1918-04-06), "Citizens or Subjects?" Kansas City Star - Roosevelt, Theodore | WIST Quotations

WIST Quotations

WIST Quotations Has Moved!Oct 22

A quotation from George Carlin

So maybe it’s not the politicians who suck; maybe it’s something else. Like the public. That would be a nice realistic campaign slogan for somebody: “The public sucks. Elect me.” Put the blame where it belongs: on the people.
Because if everything is really the fault of politicians, where are all the bright, honest, intelligent Americans who are ready to step in and replace them? Where are these people hiding? The truth is, we don’t have people like that. Everyone’s at the mall, scratching his balls and buying sneakers with lights in them. And complaining about the politicians.

George Carlin (1937-2008) American comedian
Book (2001), Napalm & Silly Putty, “Don’t Blame the Leaders”

More info about this quote: wist.info/carlin-george/79906/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #georgecarlin #bestandbrightest #citizenry #democracy #garbageingarbageout #politicians #populace #public #representativegovernment

Book (2001), Napalm & Silly Putty, "Don't Blame the Leaders" - Carlin, George | WIST Quotations

So maybe it's not the politicians who suck; maybe it's something else. Like the public. That would be a nice realistic campaign slogan for somebody: "The public sucks. Elect me." Put the blame where it belongs: on the people. Because if everything is really the fault of politicians, where are…

WIST Quotations

WIST Quotations Has Moved!Oct 15

A quotation from George Carliln

   In the midst of all my bitching, you might’ve noticed that I never complain about politicians. I leave that to others. And there’s no shortage of volunteers; everyone complains about politicians. Everyone says they suck.
   But where do people think these politicians come from? They don’t fall out of the sky; they don’t pass through a membrane from a separate reality. They come from American homes, American families, American schools, American churches, and American businesses. And they’re elected by American voters. This is what our system produces, folks. This is the best we can do. Let’s face it, we have very little to work with. Garbage in, garbage out.
   Ignorant citizens elect ignorant leaders, it’s as simple as that. And term limits don’t help. All you do is get a brand new bunch of ignorant leaders.

George Carlin (1937-2008) American comedian
Book (2001), Napalm & Silly Putty, “Don’t Blame the Leaders”

More info about this quote: wist.info/carlin-george/79693/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #georgecarlin #citizenry #democracy #elections #ignorance #politicalsystem #politicians #public #representativegovernment #America #termlimits

Nutt Los Jul 17, 2025

The story of sortition (Losverfahren) / The story of democracy

By Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and Humanities

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvGFVyqKxUE

#Democracy #Essence #EssenceOfDemocracy #Participation #Citizenry #Power #Political #Government #Democratize #Democratization

The Story of Sortition

YouTube

WIST Quotations Has Moved!Jun 30, 2025

A quotation from John Adams

But this is an unalterable Truth, that the People can never be enslaved but by their own Tameness, Pusillanimity, Sloth or Corruption. They may be deceived, and their Symplicity, Ignorance, and Docility render them frequently liable to deception. And of this, the aspiring, designing, ambitious few are very sensible. He is the Statesman qualifyed by Nature to scatter Ruin and Destruction in his Path who by deceiving a Nation can render Despotism desirable in their Eyes and make himself popular in Undoing.

John Adams (1735-1826) American lawyer, Founding Father, statesman, US President (1797-1801)
Diary (1772, Spring), “Notes for a Oration at Braintree”

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/adams-john/77256/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #johnadams #ambition #citizenry #deception #demagogue #despot #dictator #leader #marks #people #populace #vulnerability #wethepeople

WIST Quotations Has Moved!Jun 25, 2025

A quotation from John Adams

Sometimes Kings have courted the People in Opposition to the Nobles. At other Times the Nobles have united with the People in Opposition to Kings. But Kings and Nobles have much oftener combined together, to crush, to humble and to Fleece the People.

John Adams (1735-1826) American lawyer, Founding Father, statesman, US President (1797-1801)
Diary (1772, Spring), “Notes for a Oration at Braintree”

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/adams-john/77176/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #johnadams #alliance #aristocracy #autocracy #citizenry #monarchy #oligarchy #oppression #people