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Democracy Quotes

Browse 5972 quotes about Democracy.

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Democracy Quotes

“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
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“Every man should be responsible to others, nor should anyone be allowed to do just as he pleases; for where absolute freedom is allowed there is nothing to restrain the evil which is inherent in every man. But the principle of responsibility secures that which is the greatest good in states; the right persons rule and are prevented from doing wrong, and the people have their due. It is evident that this is the best kind of democracy, and why? because the people are drawn from a certain class.”

PeopleMenShouldKindPersonsStatesCertainEvilResponsibilityClassPrinciplesDemocracyPleaseAbsolutesResponsibleDuesEvery ManInherentEvidentBeing ResponsibleRight PersonAbsolute Freedom
Book:Aristotle's Politics: Writings from the Complete Works: Politics, Economics, Constitution of Athens
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“A State, in idea, is the opposite of a Church. A State regards classes, and not individuals; and it estimates classes, not by internal merit, but external accidents, as property, birth, etc. But a church does the reverse of this, and disregards all external accidents, and looks at men as individual persons, allowing no gradations of ranks, but such as greater or less wisdom, learning, and holiness ought to confer. A Church is, therefore, in idea, the only pure democracy.”

MenLooksPersonsDoeIdeasStatesGovernmentIndividualChurchClassDemocracyGreaterOughtBirthPureOppositesRegardPropertyAccidentsMeritHolinessEtcInternalsAllowingReverseLook At MeDisregard
Book:Golden Hours with Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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“Under theocracies and other authoritarian regimes, the rulers are the moral authorities. Under genuine democracy some basic values are entrenched in the legal system, which is expected to be under democratic vigilance, and others are left to the person or the group, which ideally debate moral problems in a rational, free and cooperative manner.”

PersonsProblemValuesLeftMoralDemocracyGroupsAuthorityDemocraticExpectedDebateGenuineRationalRegimesRulersVigilanceCooperativesLegal SystemTheocracyMoral Authority
Author:Mario Bunge
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“I think it could be argued that I am not heard, in the broadest sense. That is not my concern. My concern, a question really, is, do I have the courage to speak? If I speak I believe someone will respond. It then becomes my responsibility to listen to that person. And in listening, together we create a space where people can be heard. It's the conversation that I care most deeply about; this is the space I want to honor, respect, and protect. This is my faith in the open space of democracy.”

PeopleIfsThinkingWantBelievePersonsCareTogetherSpeakI BelieveSpaceResponsibilityDemocracyHeardListeningHonorProtectConversationConcernI CareOpen Spaces
Author:Terry Tempest Williams
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“Civil rights, as we may remember, are reducible to three primary heads; the right of personal security; the right of personal liberty; and the right of private property. In a state of slavery, the two last are wholly abolished, the person of the slave being at the absolute disposal of his master; and property, what he is incapable, in that state, either of acquiring, or holding, in his own use. Hence, it will appear how perfectly irreconcilable a state of slavery is to the principles of a democracy, which form the basis and foundation of our government.”

MayPersonsTwoStatesUseGovernmentLastsRememberFormThreeLibertyPrinciplesDemocracyRightsSecurityMastersBasesAbsolutesFoundationSlaveryPropertySlaveCivil RightsPrimariesIncapablePrivate PropertyPersonal LibertyPersonal Security
Book:A Dissertation on Slavery: With a Proposal for the Gradual Abolition of it in the State of Virginia
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“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
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“We need a growing middle class, not one that has been disappearing for 40 years. We need a vibrant one person-one vote democracy, not one which is dominated by billionaire campaign contributors. It's time for a political revolution. It's time to make our government work for all of us, and not just the 1%.”

NeedsYearsPersonsHas BeensGovernmentPoliticalClassDemocracyGrowingMiddleRevolutionVoteDisappearCampaignsMiddle ClassBillionaireContributorsPolitical RevolutionGovernment Work
Author:Bernie Sanders
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“You cannot possibly expect even the most illiterate person on Earth to believe that you really want a democracy in Iraq while you are paying Mubarak $3 billion a year to pretend he doesn't hate Israel. And you're providing the military and diplomatic umbrella that protects the fascist government, if you will, of the al Sauds.”

IfsWantYearsBelievePersonsGovernmentEarthHateDemocracyMilitaryProtectIraqIsraelBillionsAlsProvidingFascistsUmbrellaDiplomaticIlliterateMubarakIlliterate Person
Author:Michael Scheuer
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“People are always asking, "Is this person in front of me the same on the inside as he or she appears to be on the outside? Is there congruence between what's within that person and the words and actions I'm viewing and hearing externally?" Children ask that about their parents; students ask it about their teachers; parishioners ask it about their pastors and priests; employees ask it about their bosses; and in a democracy, citizens ask it about their political leaders.”

PeopleChildrenPersonsActionPoliticalAsksParentLeaderDemocracyTeacherFrontsStudentsCitizensAskingHearingEmployeePriestsBossPastorPolitical LeadersWords And ActionsCongruence
Author:Parker J. Palmer
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