Democracy Quotes

Democracy functions best when we have an active citizenry.

Now, mark it. This may be strong language, but heed it. The people mean it, and, my friends of the Eastern Democracy, we bid farewell when you do that thing.

If we fail to meet our problems here, no one else in the world will do so. If we fail, the heart goes out of progressives throughout the world.

All democracies are based on the proposition that power is very dangerous and that it is extremely important not to let any one person or small group have too much power for too long a time

My political ideal is democracy. Let every man be respected as an individual and no man idolized.

Democracy is finding proximate solutions to insoluble problems.

If the government was as afraid of disturbing the consumer as it is of disturbing business, this would be some democracy.

In other words, the bar should be maintained at the level of a pluralistic and participatory democracy.

(Tradition) is the democracy of the dead.

At the bottom of all the tributes paid to democracy is the little man, walking into the little booth, with a little pencil, making a little cross on a little bit of paper. . . .

The US and the European Union needs to help in the translation of the demand for democracy into a political will.

The best revenge is democracy.

Schools need not preach political doctrine to defend democracy. If they shape men capable of critical thought and trained in social attitudes, that is all that is necessary.

Since President Bush took office in 2001, this Congress has supported an agenda of democracy, freedom and expansion of rights for all peoples throughout the world.

The tendency of democracies is, in all things, to mediocrity.

Information is the currency of democracy. It's denial must always be suspect.

Christianity, democracy, science, education, wealth, and the cumulative inheritance of a thousand years, have not preserved us from the vain repetition of history.

He who fox-like got his rank, Is wolf-like in his office.

Those accept an obligation lightly who feel lightly about letting it drop.

No government demands so much from the citizens as democracy and none gives back so much.

Envy is the basis of democracy.

A perfect democracy is therefore the most shameless thing in the world.

General rebellions and revolts of a whole people never were encouraged now or at any time. They are always provoked.

Well, one of the first things is to restore the rule of law, to place the government back under the cage of law. Another thing is to stop falling for the myth of democracy.

I'd like people to be educated on the voting machines, making sure that our democracy isn't being hijacked by computer technology. There's no reason there can't be a paper trail on those machines.

If the Egyptian people can create a democracy in the heart of the Arab world, it will be a more significant contribution to civilization than the great pyramids.

So, two cheers for Democracy: one because it admits variety and two because it permits criticism.

What is a political party but a conspiracy?

I regard freedom of expression as the primary right without which one can not have a proper functioning democracy.

I believe that without free enterprise there can be no democracy.

From a monarchy followed by suffering under Communism, Ethiopians must be given the opportunity to flourish under the greatest of systems - democracy.

The leaders of the Democratic Party aren't soft on Communism. They're soft on Democracy.

America's support for human rights and democracy is our noblest export to the world.

If x is the population of the United States and y is the degree of imbecility of the average American, then democracy is the theory that x times y is less than y

These fledgling democracies in the Middle East, they're actually fighting for their freedom. And what are they rioting for in England? Leisurewear.

My first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man...not to democracy, or blood; it's to a King & a Kingdom

I understand democracy as something that gives the weak the same chance as the strong.

Only that Swiss in the heart want still a king or at least a strong Upper House of Parliament. Swiss long themselves for less democracy and more dictatorship.

The spirit of democracy cannot be established in the midst of terrorism, whether governmental or popular.

Acts of terror have never brought down liberal democracies. Acts of parliament have closed a few.

We are usually convinced more easily by reasons we have found ourselves than by those which have occurred to others.

Hanging one scoundrel, it appears, does not deter the next. Well, what of it? The first one is at least disposed of.

A democracy, the realistic observer is forced to conclude, is likely to be idealistic in its feelings about itself, but imperialistic about its practice.

In true democracy every man and woman is taught to think for himself or herself.

Fascism rewarded jackasses in uniform. Democracy gives privileges to those in sports' gear. In Italy, political regimes come to pass. Jackasses remain. Triumphant.

The American polity is infected with a serious imbalance of power between elites and masses, a power which is the principal threat to our democracy.

I grew up in a dictatorship, so I really appreciate democracy. I think democracy isn't just a random thing that's around - a democratic society needs the involvement of everybody.

And it is essential that in fighting terrorism, sacrifices should not be made on democracy.

People are even more wary of politicians and they are realizing that democracy isn't just about putting a cross on a ballot every four years, it's about deciding what you want and fighting for it.

The nature of a democracy consists to an important degree in the right of the people to criticize problems and mistakes.