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Democracy Quotes

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Democracy Quotes

“Democracy is essentially a means, a utilitarian device for safeguarding internal peace and individual freedom. As such it is by no means infallible or certain. Nor must we forget that there has often been much more cultural and spiritual freedom under an autocratic rule than under some democracies and it is at least conceivable that under the government of a very homogeneous and doctrinaire majority democratic government might be as oppressive as the worst dictatorship.”

“If you can see, hear, feel, and think, you should know that King Dollar rules the United States, and that the workers are robbed and exploited in this country to the heart's content of the masters.If you are not deaf, dumb, and blind, then you know that the American bourgeois democracy and capitalistic civilization are the worst enemies of labor and progress, and that instead of protecting them, you should help to fight to destroy them.”

“Suspicionless surveillance has no place in a democracy. The next 60 days are a historic opportunity to rein in the NSA, but the only one who can end the worst of its abuses is you. Call your representatives and tell them that the unconstitutional 'bulk collection' of Americans' private records under Section 215 of the Patriot Act must end.”

Ends Next Opportunity Democracy Records Worst Abuse Collections Representatives Patriot Sections Historic Surveillance Nsa Reins Unconstitutional Patriot Act

Author:Edward Snowden

“Democracy's worst fault is that its leaders are likely to reflect the faults and virtues of their constituents.”

Leader Virtue Democracy Worst Faults Constituents Stranger In A Strange Land

Author:Robert A. Heinlein

“In the Laws it is maintained that the best constitution is made up of democracy and tyranny, which are either not constitutions at all, or are the worst of all. But they are nearer the truth who combine many forms; for the constitution is better which is made up of more numerous elements. The constitution proposed in the Laws has no element of monarchy at all; it is nothing but oligarchy and democracy, leaning rather to oligarchy.”

Made Government Form Law Democracy Worst Elements Constitution Tyranny Monarchy Oligarchy

Book:Aristotle: The Politics and the Constitution of Athens

Source: Aristotle: The Politics and the Constitution of Athens

“Just as a royal rule, if not a mere name, must exist by virtue of some great personal superiority in the king, so tyranny, which is the worst of governments, is necessarily the farthest removed from a well-constituted form; oligarchy is little better, for it is a long way from aristocracy, and democracy is the most tolerable of the three.”

Ifs Way Wells Littles Long Government Form Three Names Virtue Democracy Worst Kings Mere Tyranny Superiority Royal Long Way Aristocracy Tolerable Oligarchy Great Person

Book:The Essential Aristotle

Source: The Essential Aristotle

“The worst of all States is the democratic State.”

States Democracy Worst Democratic Tyranny Despotism All State

Author:Pierre Corneille

“There's a longstanding myth about the United States that is still very prevalent in Europe [despite recent developments]. Historically the "America" of this myth is an incredible human adventure and an experiment in political democracy. But at the same time, or so we're told, it's the land of extremes where the worst can happen.”

Humans Stills States Happens America Political United United States Democracy Land Worst Adventure Development Europe Incredibles Extremes Myth Experiments Despite

Author:Bruno Dumont

“It's coming to America first, The cradle of the best and of the worst. It's here they got the range And the machinery for change And it's here they got the spiritual thirst. It's here the family's broken And it's here the lonely say That the heart has got to open In a fundamental way: Democracy is coming to the U.S.A. O mighty Ship of State! To the Shores of Need Past the Reefs of Greed Through the Squalls of Hate Sail on, sail on.”

Source: The Lyrics of Leonard Cohen: Enhanced Edition

“I believe in market economics. But to paraphrase Churchill - who said this about democracy and political regimes - a market economy might be the worst economic regime available, apart from the alternatives. I believe that people react to incentives, that incentives matter, and that prices reflect the way things should be allocated. But I also believe that market economies sometimes have market failures, and when these occur, there's a role for prudential - not excessive - regulation of the financial system.”

“You know, the primary process itself is very confusing. But in the end, I guess I believe what Winston Churchill said, which is that democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others. And that phrase of his, which I always have previously thought to be kind of acute, more recently I've thought of it in this way, to say well, you know what, he's also saying it's the worst form of government - except for all of the others.”

Knows Way Believe Wells Kind Said Ends Government Form I Believe Process Democracy Worst Primaries Phrases Be Kind Confusing Forms Of Government

Author:Geoffrey Cowan

“I'm sort of always trying to reinvent and recreate a better way of being, because, you know, democracy has been "the worst of all political systems except for all the rest." So I think we have a lot of room to grow and be a better society, and it's a constant battle. It's an exciting opportunity to be active.”

Thinking Knows Way Trying Has Beens Political Opportunity Grows Rooms Democracy Worst Battle Exciting Constant Active Always Trying Better Ways Political Systems Democracies Have

Author:Adrian Grenier

“I think [Winston] Churchill said it was " [democracy] the worst of all systems except for all the others." And that's probably true. It's never gone easily.”

Thinking Said Gone Democracy Worst

Author:Michael Bloomberg