With regard to the ballot, it is worthy of remark that no meeting has been held in favour of Reform at which the ballot has not been strongly insisted upon.
John BrightRead
Demand the ballot as the undeniable right of every man who is called to the poll, and take special care that the old constitutional rule and principle, by which majorities alone shall decide in Parliamentary elections, shall not be violated.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of voting rights and the necessity for fair electoral practices.
John Bright's quote underscores the fundamental principle of democracy that every individual should have the right to vote and actively participate in elections. It highlights the need to protect this right and ensure that the foundational rule of majority decision-making in parliamentary elections is upheld, thus safeguarding the legitimacy of democratic processes.
Themes
VotingDemocracyRightsElectionsMajority
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech on democratic values, one might use this quote to stress the importance of voting rights.
More from John Bright
All quotes →Similar quotes
Terrorism works better as a tactic for dictatorships, or for would-be dictators, than for revolutionaries .
Christopher HitchensRead
Good economics is good politics.
Paul KeatingRead
Political figures who talk a lot about liberty and freedom invariably turn out to mean the freedom to not pay taxes and discriminate based on race; freedom to hold different ideas and express them, not so much.
Paul KrugmanRead
The era when the United States was the dominant global power is steadily coming to an end, and it must find a way of acknowledging this and framing its ambitions and interests accordingly. Instead of claiming the right to continuing primacy in east Asia, for example, it should seek to share that primacy with China.
Martin JacquesRead
Never may a man prone to believe scandal be a despot or a popular leader! Under his guidance, democracy itself will be despotism.
Apollonius Of TyanaRead
Ankh-Morpork had dallied with many forms of government and had ended up with that form of democracy known as One Man, One Vote. The Patrician was the Man; he had the Vote.
Terry PratchettRead