“..(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
“If you have reservations about the system and want to change it, the democratic argument goes, do so within the system: put yourself forward as a candidate for political office, subject yourself to the scrutiny and the vote of fellow citizens. Democracy does not allow for politics outside the democratic system. In this sense, democracy is totalitarian.” IfsWantDoePoliticalDemocracySubjectsCitizensOfficeArgumentVoteFellowsDemocraticCandidatesScrutinyReservations Author:J. M. Coetzee
“I am convinced that in the arts, committees are useless. What is necessary are people like Karajan, [fellow recording producer John] Culshaw and me; we know not only how to achieve the best artistic results but how to attract the public and carry out the whole operation with carefully chosen collaborators. Democracy is fatal for the arts; it leads only to chaos or the achievement of new and lower common denominators of quality.” PeopleKnowsArtWholeResultsCommonQualityDemocracyAchieveAchievementFellowsChaosConvincedChosenProducersArtisticUselessOperationsCommitteesCollaboratorsCommon DenominatorBest Artist Author:Walter Legge
“Is there any other democracy where the voters are as spoiled as they are in the United States? Especially, of course, in certain states, such as Iowa and New Hampshire, where the old joke is literally true about the citizens who say they haven't yet formed an opinion about a candidate because they've only met the fellow a few times.” StatesCertainCoursesUnitedOpinionUnited StatesDemocracyHavensCitizensMetsJokesFellowsCandidatesVotersLaw EnforcementSpoiledIowaHampshireNew HampshireOld Jokes Author:Michael Kinsley
“Persuade your fellow citizens it's a good idea and pass a law. That's what democracy is all about. It's not about nine superannuated judges who have been there too long, imposing these demands on society.” LongHas BeensIdeasLawJusticeDemocracyJudgingCitizensDemandFellowsSupremeNineGood IdeasSupreme CourtMeltingImposingLaw And JusticeSupreme Court JusticeCourt JusticeCourt Judges Author:Antonin Scalia
“In walking through the world there is a choice for a man to make. He can choose the fair and open path, the path which sound ethics, sound democracy, and the common law prescribe, or choose the secret way by which he can get the better of his fellow man.” MenWorldWayLawChoicesEvilSoundCommonSecretDemocracyPathWalkingEthicsFairsFellowsGood And EvilFellow ManCommon Law Book:All in the Day's Work: An Autobiography Source: All in the Day's Work: An Autobiography
“Politics, under a democracy, reduces itself to a mere struggle for office by flatterers of the proletariat; even when a superior man prevails at that disgusting game he must prevail at the cost of his self-respect. Not many superior men make the attempt. The average great captain of the rabble, when he is not simply a weeper over irremediable wrongs, is a hypocrite so far gone that he is unconscious of his own hypocrisy.. a slimy fellow, offensive to the nose.” MenSelfGamesStruggleGoneDemocracyCostOfficeFellowsMereAverageSuperiorsNosesHypocrisyUnconsciousSelf RespectDisgustingCaptainsOffensiveHypocriteProletariatSuperior ManFlattererSo Far Gone Author:H. L. Mencken