If citizens do not believe they can change their leaders through the ballot box, they will find other ways, even at the risk of destabilizing their countries.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of faith in democratic processes and the potential consequences of losing that faith.
Kofi Annan's quote highlights the critical role that belief in democratic systems plays in governance. When citizens lose faith in their ability to effect change through established democratic means, such as voting, they may resort to more radical and potentially harmful actions to assert their dissatisfaction, which could lead to instability and unrest within their countries.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of participating in elections.
If you have a problem and you can't find a solution, you meet again tomorrow and you keep talking until you find a solution. You can disagree with behavior or a particular position, but you do not resort to calling an opponent worthless.
Let us remember the large numbers of citizens who, day in and day out, through acts of volunteerism large and small, bring hope to so many of the world's disadvantaged. Let us ensure that this wonderful resource, available in abundance to every nation, is recognized and supported as it works towards a more prosperous and peaceful world.
We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.
The global HIV/AIDS epidemic is an unprecedented crisis that requires an unprecedented response. In particular it requires solidarity - between the healthy and the sick, between rich and poor, and above all, between richer and poorer nations. We have 30 million orphans already. How many more do we have to get, to wake up?
People of different religions and cultures live side by side in almost every part of the world, and most of us have overlapping identities which unite us with very different groups. We can love what we are, without hating what β and who β we are not. We can thrive in our own tradition, even as we learn from others, and come to respect their teachings.
Democracy is, in essence, a form of non-violent conflict management. If war is the worst enemy of development, healthy and balanced development is the best form of conflict prevention.
Change the story and you change perception; change perception and you change the world.
Revolution does not insure progress. You may overturn thrones, but what proof that anything better will grow upon the soil?
My 2020 Vision for India is to transform it into a developed nation. That cannot be abstract; it is a lifeline.
All things change, nothing is extinguished. There is nothing in the whole world which is permanent. Everything flows onward; all things are brought into being with a changing nature; the ages themselves glide by in constant movement.
The Autumn is old; The sere leaves are flying; He hath gather'd up gold, And now he is dying;- Old age, begin sighing!
From today I am no longer a racing driver. I'm retired and I am very happy.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.