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While democracy in the long run is the most stable form of government, in the short run, it is among the most fragile.
Madeleine Albright
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Democracy is generally stable over time but can be easily disrupted in the short term.

Madeleine Albright highlights the paradox of democracy, suggesting that while it tends to provide a stable and enduring form of governance in the long term, it is also vulnerable to immediate challenges and instability. This fragility may stem from various factors, including political polarization, social unrest, and external threats that can undermine democratic institutions and practices.

Themes

DemocracyGovernmentFragilityStabilityPolitics

In practice

Example use cases

During a political talk on the importance of protecting democratic institutions.

More from Madeleine Albright

I think women are really good at making friends and not good at networking. Men are good at networking and not necessarily making friends. That's a gross generalization, but I think it holds in many ways.
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My parents were of the generation who thought they were the children of a free Czechoslovakia, the only democracy in central Europe.
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I really think that there was a great advantage in many ways to being a woman. I think we are a lot better at personal relationships, and then have the capability obviously of telling it like it is when it's necessary.
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Well I do think, when there are more women, that the tone of the conversation changes, and also the goals of the conversation change. But it doesn't mean that the whole world would be a lot better if it were totally run by women. If you think that, you've forgotten high school.
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The main thing is to remain oneself, under any circumstances; that was and is our common purpose.
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You think that the heads of state only have serious conversations, but they actually often begin really with the weather or, 'I really like your tie.'
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