“..(T)here are two opposite reasons for being a democrat. You may think all men so good that they deserve a share in the government of the commonwealth, and so wise that the commonwealth needs their advice. That is, in my opinion, the false, romantic doctrine of democracy. On the other hand, you may believe fallen men to be so wicked that not one of them can be trusted with any irresponsible power over his fellows.” ThinkingMenNeedsBelieveMayTwoReasonHandsGovernmentOpinionDemocracyWiseShareAdviceDeserveOppositesFellowsDemocratDoctrineFallenWickedTrustedIrresponsibleCommonwealthTwo Opposites Author:C. S. Lewis
“The art of politics, under democracy, is simply the art of ringing it. Two branches reveal themselves. There is the art of the demagogue, and there is the art of what may be called, by a shot-gun marriage of Latin and Greek, the demaslave. They are complementary, and both of them are degrading to their practitioners. The demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots. The demaslave is one who listens to what these idiots have to say and then pretends that he believes it himself.” KnowsMenBelieveMayArtTwoDemocracyGunShotsDoctrineIdiotGreekBranchesLatinUntrueDegradingComplementaryLatin And Greek Author:H. L. Mencken
“The doctrine that the cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy is like saying that the cure of crime is more crime.” EvilDemocracyCrimeDoctrineCures Author:H. L. Mencken
“Because we don't have a Fairness Doctrine, and because we have further media consolidation, and because we have a craptastic corporate media, WE DON'T HAVE NEWS! We don't have an informed populous and we don't have a democracy... Everyone in the world knows that America, (in its current state, because of right-wingers) that the right wing arm of this country (that speaks for this country unfortunately) has no credibility when it comes to human rights or independent media.” KnowsWorldHumansCountryStatesAmericaSpeakDemocracyRightsMediaArmsNewsIndependentWingsHuman RightsCurrentsDoctrineCorporateFairnessCredibilityRight WingConsolidationIndependent Media Author:Janeane Garofalo
“There are two kinds of comprehensive doctrines, religious and secular. Those of religious faith will say I give a veiled argument for secularism, and the latter will say I give a veiled argument for religion. I deny both. Each side presumes the basic ideas of constitutional democracy, so my suggestion is that we can make our political arguments in terms of public reason. Then we stand on common ground. That's how we can understand each other and cooperate.” GivingKindTwoIdeasReasonPoliticalSidesTermReligiousCommonDemocracyArgumentDenyDoctrineLatterSecularSuggestionsReligious FaithSecularismComprehensiveCommon GroundPolitical Arguments Author:John Rawls
“The real causes of terrorism are not poverty and oppression per se, but rather the bankruptcy of materialist ideologies, like Neo-Conservatism, which promise much but deliver little. The central doctrine of Neo-Conservatism is "democratic capitalism." This is the ultimate oxymoron, because in practice the political pluralism that should underlie democracy cannot exist in a climate of economic plutocracy.” ShouldLittlesRealPoliticalPoliticsCausesPovertyPracticeEconomyDemocracyEconomicPromiseCapitalismUltimateDemocraticClimateTerrorismDoctrineOppressionIdeologyLiberalismConservatismBankruptcyPluralismOxymoronPlutocracy Author:Robert Dickson Crane
“The establishment of religious freedom was no less momentous an achievement than the clearing of the great forest or the winning of independence, for the twin doctrines of separation of church and state and liberty of individual conscience are the marrow of our democracy, if not indeed America's most magnificent contribution to the freeing of Western man.” IfsMenStatesAmericaWinningIndividualChurchReligiousLibertyDemocracyAtheismAchievementConscienceIndependenceWesternPositive AtheismSeparationForestsDoctrineContributionEstablishmentTwinsMagnificentChurch And StateSeparation Of Church And StateReligious FreedomClearingMarrow Author:Clinton Rossiter
“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
“Only together do Europe and the U.S. stand a chance of keeping liberal democracy as the central doctrine for organizing world affairs.” WorldTogetherChanceDemocracyEuropeAffairDoctrineWorld AffairsLiberal Democracy Author:Victor Ponta
“What ass first let loose the doctrine that the suffrage is a high boon and voting a noble privilege?” FirstsDemocracyPrivilegeNobleDoctrineAssVotingSuffrageBoon Author:H. L. Mencken
“I think the detective story is by far the best upholder of the democratic doctrine in literature. I mean, there couldn't have been detective stories until there were democracies, because the very foundation of the detective story is the thesis that if you're guilty you'll get it in the neck and if you're innocent you can't possibly be harmed. No matter who you are.” IfsThinkingMeanHas BeensMatterStoriesLiteratureDemocracyFoundationWho You AreDemocraticDoctrineInnocentGuiltyNecksDetectivesThesisDetective Stories Author:Rex Stout
“The International Criminal Court, like most international institutions, is a wonderful idea. A noble idea. All it needs to work is planetary government, worldwide democracy and the triumph of reason over tribal loyalties, political doctrines and individual ambition. In other words, it requires that we all live in the world described by the "Star Trek" television shows.” WorldNeedsIdeasReasonShowsGovernmentPoliticalIndividualStarsDemocracyWonderfulTelevisionAmbitionInstitutionsCourtInternationalNobleCriminalsLoyaltyDoctrineTriumphTelevision Shows Author:James Lileks