Authoritarianism is not pretending anymore to be a real alternative to democracy, but we can see many more authoritarian practices and styles basically being smuggled into democratic governments.

Democracy is the only game in town. The problem is [when] people start to believe that it is not a game worth playing.

Transparency is not about restoring trust in institutions. Transparency is the politics of managing mistrust.

Bulgaria has been deindustrialized by interest groups who extracted state assets like oil states extract the oil in their ground.

The Church of TED is very optimistic. Bulgarians are some of the most pessimistic in the world. There are the Happy, the Unhappy and the Bulgarians.

As a rule, governments monitor people.

[It's] difficult to engage people in politics when they believe that what really matters is where they personally stand.

Russians clearly perceive America's global influence as being in irreversible decline and American society shattered by major political, economic and ideological crises.

Parental Alienation is an emotional act of violence that is aimed at an adult, but critically wounds a child.

Those aren't doors, and they're not opening. Those are crypts, Richie. They're cracking open and the vampires you thought were dead are all flying out again.

Religion is the subjective experience. Science is the objective reality. To argue either is a ridiculous waste of time and energy.

Propaganda is amazing. People can be led to believe anything.

There is a sort of human paste that when it comes near the fire of enthusiasm is only baked into harder shape.

Is that all?" she whispered. Gansey closed his eyes. "That's all there is.

Language is as fragile as the little alpine plant.

Winter is dead; spring is crazy; summer is cheerful and autumn is wise!

Roosevelt understands that there are things that are worth surrendering your career for, like defending the country against [Adolf] Hitler.

The future is here - it just has not been uniformly distributed.