Home / Quotes / Quote by Elif Safak

Quote by Elif Safak

“I am very worried about this concentration of power, and it's not only because of Erdogan. We have the ballot box, but we don't have the culture of democracy. The government says: You see, we have the majority, we're entitled to do anything we want. But that's not democracy, that's majoritarianism.”

Quote by Elif Safak

Author

Elif Safak is a renowned Turkish author born on October 25, 1971. Her works are known for their profound character development and rich cultural background, which have won her a wide audience. more

You May Also Like

“Obviously, Turkey is not a typical authoritarian regime, and obviously it's very important that there are free elections. But it's also obvious that this is not a liberal, mature democracy. This is why I call Turkey a wobbly democracy. At any time, it can tip over and fall down.”

Important Fall Democracy Election Obvious Mature Regimes Typical Turkeys Falling Down Free Elections

Author:Elif Safak

“Sometimes I feel I have more faith in European ideals than some of my British or French friends. For them, it's a financial burden. For me, Europe is primarily about values, about fundamental rights, freedom, women's rights.”

Feels Sometimes Values Rights Europe Ideals Fundamentals Financial Burden British Womens Rights Fundamental Rights Financial Burden

Author:Elif Safak

“I would like the refugee crisis to become a new beginning in the Turkish-European relationship. But it would be very problematic if, during this process, human rights were forgotten. Democracy needs to be the priority.”

Ifs Needs Humans Would Be Process Democracy Rights Crisis Forgotten Human Rights Priorities Refugee New Beginnings Turkish Refugee Crisis

Author:Elif Safak

“I see two opposite tendencies in Turkish society: people feel demoralized, they lose the interest in politics and retreat to their private lives; or they become very angry and even more politicized, and radicalized. Both trends are troublesome.”

People Feels Two Interest Loses Opposites Angry Tendencies Trends Retreat Private Life Troublesome Turkish Demoralized Two Opposites Interest In Politics

Author:Elif Safak

“Fans don't boo nobodies.”

Inspirational Motivational Sports Fans Baseball African American

Author:Reggie Jackson

“Turkey in general became too involved with what is happening in Egypt and in Syria. Some politicians with neo-Ottoman dreams developed this idea of being a major player in the Middle East, which hasn't gone as expected.”

Ideas Dream Gone Player Middle Involved Politician Majors Happenings East Expected Middle East Syria Egypt Turkeys Ottomans

Author:Elif Safak

“I believe in optimism of the will, pessimism of the intellect. But my hope is the people, the society, which is ahead of the government.”

People Believe Government I Believe Optimism I Believe In Intellect Pessimism

Author:Elif Safak

“Turkey has a very young, dynamic, curious population. In Europe, Facebook and Twitter are mostly about sharing daily experiences while for Turkish people, social networks are political platforms.”

People Young Political Social Europe Population Curious Platforms Turkeys Social Network Turkish Daily Experience

Author:Elif Safak

“The digital world is developing with such force and such a pace that you simply can't ban or control it. People want to be globally connected.”

People World Want Force Connected Developing Digital Pace Bans Digital World

Author:Elif Safak

“After the Ankara bombings on October 10, people were asked to hold a minute of silence, but many refused. Our society can't even unite in grief to honor the victims. We've lost our empathy. That's maybe the worst.”

People Lost Grief Silence Minutes Worst Honor Empathy Victim Our Society October Bombing Ankara

Author:Elif Safak