Quotes on Democracy

Democracies are indeed slow to make war, but once embarked upon a martial venture are equally slow to make peace and reluctant to make a tolerable, rather than a vindictive, peace.

The best weapon of a dictatorship is secrecy, but the best weapon of a democracy should be the weapon of openness.

After installing friendly leaders in Iran and Guatemala, the United States lost interest in promoting democracy in either country.

Even if we accept, as the basic tenet of true democracy, that one moron is equal to one genius, is it necessary to go a further step and hold that two morons are better than one genius?

I believe that during these times, we should not forget that many sacrificed to regain our democracy. We cannot just keep quiet because that is what happened during martial law. Our dictator then believed that he can do anything to keep himself in power.

I would like to ask the many Filipino people to pray together, to help each other so that we will be able to preserve the democracy we restored 20 years ago.

The role of citizen in our democracy does not end with your vote.

We, the people, are not free. Our democracy is but a name. We vote? What does that mean? It means we choose between Tweedledee and Tweedledum. We elect expensive masters to do our work for us, and then blame them because they work for themselves and for their class.

One person alone can't do anything as important as bringing genuine democracy to a country.

That rifle hanging on the wall of the working-class flat or labourer's cottage is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there.

In the strict sense of the term, a true democracy has never existed, and never will exist.

I think our democracy has it exactly right: two terms, eight years. It's enough. Because it's important to have one foot in reality when you have access to this kind of power.

In a democracy, dissent is an act of faith.

Never may a man prone to believe scandal be a despot or a popular leader! Under his guidance, democracy itself will be despotism.

A good politician is quite as unthinkable as an honest burglar.

Intellectual freedom is the only guarantee of a scientific - democratic approach to politics, economic development, and culture.

Federalism is the best curb on democracy. [It] assigns limited powers to the central government. Thereby all power is limited. It excludes absolute power of the majority.

We want a free market, but we know that the paradox of a 'free' market is that sometimes you have to intervene. You have to make sure it's not the law of the jungle but the laws of democracy that works.

Our democracy cannot be left in the hands of those who would rather watch or participate in a train wreck than stop it.

Small use it will be to save democracy for the race if we cannot save the race for democracy.

Democracy is four wolves and a sheep voting on dinner.