John Ensign Quotes

Voting is fundamental in our democracy. It has yielded enormous returns.

Voting is the first duty of democracy.

We are not the consumers of democracy, we are its proprietors.

It is not suffrage that gives life to democracy; it is our democratic society that gives life to suffrage.

In a democracy, a person's vote is their voice. For much of our history, however, not everyone's voice was welcome at the voting booth.

Every Indian has a right to take part in politics. Why not me?

I love voting day. I love the sight of my fellow citizens lining up to make their voices heard.

Not less, but more democracy - that is the demand, that is the great goal that we have to prescribe for ourselves, and especially for our youth.

Democracy is not just voting for your leaders; it's really premised upon ordinary citizens understanding the issues.

People say, 'If you don't vote, then you don't have a right to say anything. But nine times outta 10, I pay more taxes than they do - so even if I don't vote, I still have the right to speak out.

I want to make democracy work not only for the rich and the well connected but for everyone.

I vote and I do jury duty.

The voting booth joint is a great leveler; the whole neighborhood - rich, poor, old, young, decrepit and spunky - they all turn out in one day.

As a citizen, you need to know how to be a part of it, how to express yourself - and not just by voting.

We, as citizens, are the true owners of government.

Well, I couldn't do the day-to-day stuff of being a politician or anything, but I just think everybody should have an opinion and everybody should vote, and that's what we're built on.

If we are to build grassroots respect for the institutions and processes that constitute democracy, the state must treat its citizens as real citizens rather than as subjects.

I just think that all of us in this room should have a voice in how the USA is represented. And he don't allow us our voice, that's all I'm saying.

You can't vote your hates; you've got to vote your hopes.

I'd rather vote for something I want and not get it than vote for something I don't want, and get it.

We are not perfect. Democracy is a messy business … Democracy depends on people getting and keeping involved … In our democracy, the government is not them; it is us.

Voting is still the most exciting thing we do as Americans together.

We need to learn democracy. Everything takes time.

Abstention is a dereliction of citizenship: always cast a vote, if only to cast stones at the most hated.

I know how illusory would be the belief that my vote determined anything; but nevertheless when I go to the polls I have a satisfaction in the sense that we are all engaged in a common venture.