“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.” IfsMenNeedsSchoolPoliticalSocialEducationAttitudeDemocracyShapesCapableCriticalDoctrine Author:Albert Einstein
“A well-functioning democracy has a culture of free speech, not simply legal protection of free speech. It encourages independence of mind. It imparts a willingness to challenge prevailing opinion through both words and deeds. Equally important, it encourages a certain set of attitudes in listeners, one that gives a respectful hearing to those who do not embrace the conventional wisdom. In a culture of free speech, the attitude of listeners is no less important than that of speakers.” GivingMindWellsImportantCertainCultureChallengesAttitudeOpinionDemocracySpeechIndependenceEmbraceDeedsHearingProtectionWillingnessSpeakersFree SpeechConventionalListenersRespectfulImpartPrevailingDemocracies HaveConventional Wisdom Author:Cass Sunstein
“That kind of skeptical, questioning, "don't accept what authority tells you" attitude of science - is also nearly identical to the attitude of mind necessary for a functioning democracy. Science and democracy have very consonant values and approaches, and I don't think you can have one without the other.” ThinkingMindKindValuesAttitudeAcceptingDemocracyAuthorityApproachQuestioningSkepticalIdenticalDemocracies HaveConsonants Book:Conversations with Carl Sagan Source: Conversations with Carl Sagan
“It's very difficult to have any faith in the sincerity of the SLORC about stamping out drug production if they find it so easy to forgive a drug baron whom at one time they said they would never, never forgive and would never, never regard as anything but a drug runner. The SLORC is far more aggressive in its attitude toward the National League for Democracy than against drug traffickers.” IfsSaidEasyDifficultAttitudeDemocracyDrugRegardForgivingProductionsLeagueSincerityAggressiveOne TimeRunnersThey SaidNever Forgive Author:Aung San Suu Kyi
“We care about equality and democracy within the band and outside the band. For us life is about cooperation and solidarity, not about egotism, greed, or competition. This means that we prefer to work with people and bands that have a similar sort of mentality and attitude.” PeopleMeanCareAttitudeDemocracyCompetitionGreedCollaborationCooperationMentalitySolidarityEgotism Author:G.W. Sok
“In the United States, the day when you pay your taxes is a day of mourning because this alien force - the government - is coming to rob you of your hard-earned money. That's the general attitude, and it's a tremendous victory for the opponents of democracy, and, of course, any privileged sector is going to hate democracy. You can see it in the healthcare debate.” HardStatesGovernmentHateCoursesForceUnitedPayAttitudeUnited StatesDemocracyVictoryTaxesDebateAliensOpponentsMourningHealthcarePrivileged Author:Noam Chomsky