Sen. Cory Booker stood on the floor of the U.S. Senate for 25 hours and 5 minutes, speaking about the threat Donald Trump poses to our democracy. To avoid needing to use the restroom, Booker went without food and water for days in advance. To give his voice an occasional rest, other Democratic senators engaged in colloquies with him.

Through it all — from evening to the middle of the night, to the next day and evening again — Booker stood and delivered his message with force, grace and eloquence. When he was done, he limped off the floor having made history.

Over the course of his speech, many observers grew excited that a Democratic politician was taking action to disrupt the Senate. Others noted the symbolism of a Black senator breaking Strom Thurmond’s record for the longest speech in Senate history.

While these aspects may offer satisfaction, they miss the deeper significance of what Booker accomplished. His actions were not merely symbolic or performative; they were substantive.

Booker did not read the phone book, as other senators have done. He did not simply read state laws into the Congressional Record, as Thurmond did to pass the time. He did not read children's books, like Ted Cruz.

Instead, Booker used his time to argue that what we are witnessing in our country is not only abnormal, but fundamentally wrong. He connected his argument to the U.S. Constitution, the Bible and our shared sense of right and wrong. He explained how the moment we live in fits into the broader context of history while also being unique. Seamlessly, he wove references to literature, religion, law and politics.

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Booker was not killing time merely to inconvenience others; he was using the time to persuade an audience. That is why his speech became so captivating and why millions tuned in to watch. He was not wasting our time or his. He was using it efficiently and effectively to sound an alarm that too few have heard.

When people ask me what they can do to help protect democracy, my standard response is to stand up and speak out in your own town square. I have said this so many times that my staff sometimes rolls their eyes when I begin to make my point. As I wrote earlier this year:

Every one of us has a town square. It may include our social media accounts, our local book club, or our dinner table. Use your town square to speak out in favor of democracy and against what Republicans are doing. Do not shy away from difficult conversations; seek them out. Engage the curious. Educate those who seek information. We all have a role to play, so don’t assume your voice is too faint or your platform too small.

I offer this advice not because I believe it to be true, but because I know it is.

Collective action is important, and supporting others can help, but the power of individuals speaking out is what despots fear the most. It is why Putin jailed and killed Navalny. It is why China prohibits individuals from engaging in even solo acts of protest or posting certain content on social media.

I understand the discomfort that comes with taking a stand. It often feels isolating, vulnerable and risky. Often, in the moments after I appear on TV or a podcast, I wonder if I made a mistake, said something wrong or was inarticulate.

When I see one of my written pieces on the Democracy Docket website or in an email, I read it with dread. I second-guess every word and argument.

At the end of a long day, I often wonder if I offended rather than engaged, alienated rather than educated. Did my arguments make the curious more interested or to disengage? Did I cause the other side to dig in rather than reach out?

I am not a U.S. senator. I do not command the attention of the nation. But I have stood up and spoken out enough times to know that it does not get easier as your audience grows.

Standing in your public square to say what is right and what is wrong is not easy. It comes with risks and disappointments. It can lead to embarrassment and failure. Often, it is simply uncomfortable.

So too was Booker’s decision to stand on the Senate floor for 25 hours. He could not have known that he would last that long, that his body wouldn’t give out or that his speech wouldn’t be dismissed as a stunt. He had to know that without food and water or an opportunity to sit down and rest, he could lose focus and potentially misspeak as he grew tired.

That did not happen. Instead, as the hours passed Booker seemed to grow stronger, more passionate and persuasive. He drew energy from the moment and the silent support he was receiving from millions of people who were cheering him on around the world.

Cory Booker showed us what courage looks like by standing up and speaking out in one’s town square. He showed us how it can help shape reality. He demonstrated that it can inspire others and thus can make a real difference in the fight for democracy.

We all owe him a debt of gratitude and an obligation to follow his example.