“It is important that democracy in Lebanon is protected and that Hezbollah will not be supported by outside forces like Syria and Iran.” ImportantForceDemocracyIranProtectedSyriaLebanonHezbollah Author:Ehud Olmert
“Our brave soldiers and support personnel are engaged in a battle as important as any the United States has ever before waged, for the success of democracy in Iraq is a crucial test of the ideals this Nation was founded upon.” ImportantStatesNationsUnitedUnited StatesSupportDemocracyBattleIdealsTestsBraveSoldierIraqEngagedCrucialPersonnelBrave Soldiers Author:Virginia Foxx
“It is important to remember that some of the most serious thinkers once thought that democracy was not compatible with the cultures of Germany, Italy, Japan, Latin America and Russia.” ImportantAmericaRememberCultureLiteratureDemocracySeriousRussiaGermanyJapanLatinThinkerLatin AmericaCompatible Author:Natan Sharansky
“Demagogues and agitators are very unpleasant, they are incidental to a free and constitutional country, and you must put up with these inconveniences or do without many important advantages.” ImportantCountryPoliticsPowerDemocracySecurityAdvantageConstitutionToleranceInconvenience Author:Benjamin Disraeli
“Freedom of the press is not just important to democracy, it is democracy.” ImportantDemocracyPressesCensorshipFreedom Of SpeechFreedom Of The Press Author:Walter Cronkite
“The two most important things that can be done to promote democracy in the world is first, to bring moral clarity back to world affairs and second, to link international policies to the advance of democracy around the globe.” WorldFirstsTwoImportantDoneLiteratureMoralDemocracyPolicyImportant ThingsAffairInternationalClarityLinksGlobesWorld Affairs Author:Natan Sharansky
“Bernard Shaw remains the only model we have of what the citizen of a democracy should be: an informed participant in all things we deem important to the society and the individual.” ShouldImportantIndividualDemocracyCitizensModelsAll ThingsRemainsParticipantsBernard Shaw Author:Jacques Barzun
“Definition of victory which is really an important thing for the American people to understand is that we have an ally in the war on terror, that democracy is able to sustain itself and defend itself, and the Iraqi people feel that the security forces that we've trained up are capable of defending themselves against the violent.” PeopleFeelsImportantWarAbleForceDemocracySecurityVictoryCapableImportant ThingsDefinitionsTerrorViolentAlliesWar On TerrorSecurity Forces Author:George W. Bush
“But, clearly, the prime minister has laid down some ground rules which any functioning democratic state would insist upon, having to do with, you know, arms belonging to the state, not to -- not in private hands. The current circumstances come out of what I think is a very important and indeed appropriate action that the Iraqi government has taken.” ThinkingKnowsImportantStatesHandsGovernmentActionDemocracyTakenArmsCircumstancesDemocraticCurrentsMinistersAppropriateBelongingPrimePrime MinisterGround Rules Author:Condoleezza Rice
“One of the most important signs of the existence of a democracy is that when there is a knock at the door at 5 in the morning, one is completely certain that it is the milkman.” ImportantCertainExistenceMorningDemocracyDoorsMilkman Author:Winston Churchill
“I didn't know growing up what I wanted to do. I finally settled on broadcast journalism as a way to satisfy the urge to perform and also do something important, which is to give people in a democracy information to make good decisions.” PeopleKnowsWayGivingImportantWantedDecisionGrowing UpDemocracyGrowingInformationJournalismUrgesGood DecisionBroadcast Journalism Author:Mort Crim
“It is profoundly important to honor President Johnson's historic contributions to justice and democracy - and to appreciate how hard he fought for the rights of every Texan and every American.” ImportantHardPresidentJusticeDemocracyRightsHonorAppreciateContributionHistoricJohnsonTexanPresident Johnson Author:Marc Veasey
“Least of all shall we preserve democracy or foster its growth if all the power and most of the important decisions rest with an organization far too big for the common man to survey or comprehend.” IfsMenImportantBigsGrowthDecisionCommonDemocracyOrganizationPreservesSurveysCommon ManImportant Decisions Author:Friedrich August von Hayek
“Self-censorship as a result of intimidation or social pressures, sometimes referred to as "political correctness", constitutes a serious obstacle to the proper functioning of democracy. It is important to hear the views of all persons,including the "silent majority", and to give heed to the weaker voices.” GivingPersonsImportantSelfSometimesPoliticalSocialVoiceResultsViewsDemocracySeriousPressureMajoritySilentIncludingObstaclesCensorshipPolitical CorrectnessHeedCorrectnessIntimidationSocial PressureSelf CensorshipSilent Majority Author:Alfred-Maurice de Zayas
“In the United States the government has become less important. So, it's democracy, but as each year passes it seems that the government plays less of a role in people's lives, and so they're living in whatever situation their employment imposes upon them more than they're living in a grand political system.” PeopleYearsImportantStatesPlaySeemsGovernmentPoliticalUnitedSituationRolesUnited StatesDemocracyEmploymentPolitical Systems Author:Will Oldham
“If the institutions of parliamentary democracy are worth preserving, the duty to explain them to the people they are meant to serve becomes vitally important.” PeopleIfsImportantDemocracyDutyInstitutionsParliamentaryParliamentary Democracy Author:John Allen Fraser
“Modi winning or not winning is not important. I can go home tomorrow & open a tea stall but the nation must not suffer.” I CanImportantHomeSufferingWinningNationsDemocracyTomorrowIndiaElectionTea Author:Narendra Modi
“Skill development, speed and scale are the 3 important aspects that are relevant to the present-day growth and development module.” ImportantGrowthDemocracyDevelopmentSkillsAspectIndiaElectionSpeedScalesRelevantPresent DaySkills Development Author:Narendra Modi
“We're an elective democracy where science and technology will define where the economically strong countries in the world will be. And science and technological literacy is important for security, as well.” WorldWellsImportantCountryStrongTechnologyDemocracySecurityTechnologicalLiteracyScience And Technology Author:Neil deGrasse Tyson
“There are these two kinds of patriotism. There's blind patriotism, unflagging patriotism. And then there's the patriotism that says I live in a democracy and it's very important for the health and the life of this democracy that it get better all the time, not get worse.” KindTwoImportantDemocracyBlindGet BetterIt Gets Better Author:Norman Mailer
“The Founders understood that democracy was important, but if you didn't filter it through a republican system you'd be just as likely to end up with a tyranny of the majority as you would with a healthy society. Don't worry, I won't quote the Federalist Papers, but trust me, it's in there.” IfsImportantEndsWorryDemocracyHealthyRepublicanPaperUnderstoodMajorityTyrannyFoundersPapersTrust MeFiltersFederalistFederalist PapersTyranny Of The MajorityHealthy Society Author:Jonah Goldberg
“But our perfect democracy, which neither needs nor particularly wants voters, is a rarity. It is important to remember there still exist many other forms of government in the world today, and that dozens of foreign governments still long for a democracy such as ours to be imposed on them.” WorldWantNeedsLongStillsImportantGovernmentTodayRememberFormPerfectDemocracyVotersDozenWorld TodayForms Of GovernmentRarity Author:Jon Stewart
“Advocating democracy has, by other people, often been taken as a form of imperialism, and not without some justification. So the important thing in a democracy is that it doesn't necessarily have to agree with what America's interests are, and it doesn't necessarily have to be serving American interests.” PeopleImportantAmericaFormInterestDemocracyTakenAgreeImportant ThingsServingJustificationImperialismDemocracies HaveAdvocating Author:George Soros
“There is no more important struggle for American democracy than ensuring a diverse, independent and free media. Free Press is at the heart of that struggle.” HeartImportantStruggleDemocracyMediaIndependentPressesDiverseFree PressAmerican Democracy Author:Bill Moyers
“I recognize the need to provide the press - and, through you, the American people - with information to the fullest extent possible. In our democracy, the work of the Pentagon press corps is important, defending our freedom and way of life is what this conflict is about, and that certainly includes freedom of the press.” PeopleWayNeedsImportantLife IsDemocracyInformationConflictPressesFreedom Of The PressPentagon Author:Donald Rumsfeld
“Political struggle is the most important thing any of us can do as a citizen in a democracy; and that means the old joining the young to fight for elemental kinds of justice.” KindMeanImportantYoungPoliticalFightingCan DoJusticeStruggleDemocracyCitizensImportant ThingsJoiningElementalsPolitical Struggle Author:Jonathan Kozol
“Democracy is about criticism. I didn't elect Obama because he's a black; I voted for Obama because he was the right person at the time. Period. The exceptionalism of a black U.S. President is not important to me. It's what he does. And who he has at the table. And what he does to change the world - that's what's important.” WorldPersonsDoeImportantBlackPresidentDemocracyPeriodsCriticismTablesChanging The WorldWhat's ImportantRight PersonTime PeriodsExceptionalism Author:Danny Glover
“The most important element of democracy, I believe, is the protection of minorities.” BelieveImportantI BelieveDemocracyElementsProtectionMinorities Author:Shahin Najafi
“The point now is how do we work together to achieve important goals. And one such goal is a democracy in Germany.” ImportantTogetherGoalDemocracyAchieveGermanyWorking TogetherBushism Author:George W. Bush
“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
“There is no more important task in a democracy than resolving the differences among people and finding a course of action that will be supported by a sufficient number to permit the nation to achieve a better life for all.” PeopleImportantActionCoursesNationsDifferencesNumbersDemocracyAchieveFindingsTasksSufficientPermitBetter Life Author:Robert McNamara
“A more important antidote to American democracy is American gerontocracy. The positions of eminence and authority in Congress are allotted in accordance with length of service, regardless of quality.” ImportantQualityDemocracyPositionAuthorityCongressLengthAntidoteEminenceAmerican Democracy Author:John Kenneth Galbraith
“The first and most important thing to understand about politics is this: forget Right, Left, Center, socialism, fascism, or democracy. Every government that exists - or ever existed, or ever will exist - is a kleptocracy, meaning "rule by thieves." Competing ideologies merely provide different excuses to separate the Productive Class from what they produce.” FirstsImportantDifferentGovernmentLeftForgetClassDemocracyProduceImportant ThingsExcuseSocialismIdeologyProductiveFascismThievesCompeting Author:L. Neil Smith
“There are those who argue that the concept of human rights is not applicable to all cultures. We in the National League for Democracy believe that human rights are of universal relevance. But even those who do not believe in human rights must certainly agree that the rule of law is most important. Without the rule of law there can be no peace.” BelieveHumansImportantLawCultureDemocracyRightsConceptsUniversalAgreeHuman RightsArguingLeagueRelevanceRule Of Law Author:Aung San Suu Kyi
“All democracies are based on the proposition that power is very dangerous and that it is extremely important not to let any one person or small group have too much power for too long a time” PersonsLongImportantDemocracyToo MuchGroupsDangerousPropositionsSmall GroupsToo Much Power Author:Aldous Huxley
“It's symbolic of how I feel, with cameras on every street corner. Being watched all the time, having my sense of freedom invaded. Privacy is an important thing, and it has been eroded over the past few years. Now they're talking about body scans at airports. Democracy becomes a sham the second you have to give way to authorities who can do any kind of search that they want with you.” WayWantGivingFeelsYearsKindHas BeensImportantBodyPastCan DoTalkingDemocracyStreetsAuthorityCamerasImportant ThingsCornersPrivacyAirportsSymbolicOver The PastStreet Corners Author:Nitin Sawhney
“It seems to me very important to the idea of democracy to the country and to the world eventually that all men and women stand equal under the sky.” MenWorldImportantIdeasCountrySeemsDemocracySkyEqualMen And Women Book:Georgia O'Keeffe: A Life Source: Georgia O'Keeffe: A Life
“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.” ImportantFallDemocracyElectionObviousMatureRegimesTypicalTurkeysFalling DownFree Elections Author:Elif Safak
“To pay attention to the actual core of the movement - that would be pretty hard. Can you concentrate for example on either the policy issues or the creation of functioning democratic communities of mutual support and say, well, that's what's lacking in our country that's why we don't have a functioning democracy - a community of real participation. That's really important. And that always gets smashed.” WellsImportantRealCountryHardWould BeCommunityPayAttentionSupportDemocracyIssuesPolicyExampleMovementCreationDemocraticCoreOur CountryPay AttentionMutualLackingParticipationMutual Support Author:Noam Chomsky
“I've always thought that the role of citizen, the role of advocate, were as important in our democracy as running for office.” ImportantRunningRolesDemocracyCitizensOfficeRunning For Office Author:Hillary Clinton
“Our society is connecting workers with the products people consume and recognizing workers for their contributions. It is important to do that, and to have organized labor - a middle class - to preserve our democracy.” PeopleImportantClassDemocracyMiddleProductsLaborWorkersPreservesOrganizedContributionMiddle ClassOur SocietyRecognizingConnectingOrganized Labor Author:Dolores Huerta
“There can be no democracy without observing the law and everyone must observe it - that is the most basic and important thing that we all should remember.” ShouldImportantRememberLawDemocracyImportant ThingsObserving Author:Vladimir Putin
“I think my most important advice is to understand what are the foundations of a healthy democracy and how we have to engage in citizenship continuously, not just when something upsets us; not just when there's an election or when an issue pops up for a few weeks. It's hard work.” ThinkingImportantHardDemocracyIssuesWeekAdviceHard WorkHealthyElectionFoundationPopsUpsetCitizenship Author:Barack Obama
“The most important thing the giant philanthropies could do - Gates, Rockefeller, Ford, Open Society Institute, and new ones emerging - would be to create a $2-to-$3 billion Trust for Independent Journalism. They wouldn't miss the money, and democracy would still have a fighting chance because of their investment.” StillsImportantWould BeFightingChanceDemocracyMissingIndependentImportant ThingsInvestmentBillionsJournalismGiantsGatesPhilanthropyEmergingInstitute Author:Bill Moyers