“There is an error common to both oligarchies and to democracies: in the latter the demagogues, when the multitude are above the law, are always cutting the city in two by quarrels with the rich, whereas they should always profess to be maintaining their cause; just as in oligarchies the oligarchs should profess to maintain the cause of the people, . .” PeopleShouldTwoLawCausesCommonCitiesDemocracyRichCuttingErrorsLatterMultitudesMaintainingQuarrelsOligarchyAbove The Law Book:Complete Works of Aristotle, Volume 2: The Revised Oxford Translation Source: Complete Works of Aristotle, Volume 2: The Revised Oxford Translation
“Democracy means doing whatever you want without asking permission of anybody but your boss, your doctor, your lawyer, your landlord, your bank, your city, your state and federal authorities, and your wife and children.” WantMeanChildrenStatesGovernmentCitiesDemocracyWifeAuthorityDoctorsAskingLawyerBossPermissionLandlordAsking Permission Author:Sam Levenson
“Back then, before it became clear that democracy was best served by a drunken electorate, the bars in New York City were required to close on Election Day.” CitiesDemocracyClearNew YorkElectionBarsNew York CityElection DayElectorate Book:Afterthoughts Source: Afterthoughts
“There was great political uncertainty in South Asia at the time of the Buddha. The older small tribal societies were cracking up and gave way to bigger states. There was much more trade and travel going on than before. To people in the cities the experience of living in a small place where you knew everyone and governed your affairs by consensual democracy had been lost.” PeopleWayStatesPoliticalLostCitiesDemocracyBiggerTradeSouthAffairUncertaintyAsiaGreat PoliticalSouth AsiaSmall PlacesCracking Up Author:Pankaj Mishra