Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quote Share via Email Print this Page [261-280] of 356 Democracy quotesDemocracy QuotesDemocracy Previous 20 quotes Next 20 quotes The general object was to produce a cure for the evils under which the United States labored; that in tracing these evils to their origins, every man had found it in the turbulence and follies of democracy.~ Edmund Randolph Unless they can pass the same test that immigrants must pass to become citizens, people shouldn't be allowed to vote. The idea that there is some public benefit in ignoramuses and morons pulling levers next to names on a ballot is one of the evil myths of post-modern America. The purpose of voting, in our country, is to select men and women with the competence and integrity to operate the mechanics of government fixed by our Constitution. For this process to have any public benefit requires that the choices be made on an intelligent, knowledgeable and reasoned basis.~ Charley Reese Democracy tends to ignore, even deny, threats to its existence because it loathes doing what is needed to counter them. It awakens only when the danger becomes deadly, imminent, evident. By then, either there is too little time left for it to save itself, or the price of survival has become crushingly high.~ Jean-Francois Revel To totalitarianism, an opponent is by definition subversive; democracy treats subversives as mere opponents for fear of betraying its principles.~ Jean-Francois Revel But, clearly, the prime minister has laid down some ground rules which any functioning democratic state would insist upon, having to do with, you know, arms belonging to the state, not to -- not in private hands. The current circumstances come out of what I think is a very important and indeed appropriate action that the Iraqi government has taken.~ Condoleezza Rice When a legislature decides to steal some of our rights and plans to use police force to accomplish it, what's the real difference between them and the thief? Darn little! They hide behind the excuse that they're legislating democratically. The fact they do it by a majority vote has no moral significance whatsoever. Numerical might does not constitute right, no more than a lynch mob can justify its act because a majority participated.~ H. L. Richardson Confronted with such a tight regulation, can man pretend to be free because the tyranny he is subjected to derives from the law? Of course, the legal power is not called "tyranny" since it appears to be established by the general will in the common interest, and since, in any event, occurrences of arbitrary power are infrequent. But a master's equity does not mean that his subjects are not slaves. ... And when their servitude lasts and their thoughts follow their behavior, the state becomes totalitarian and subjection is complete. Since it is legal servitude, the regime is still said to be democratic. Such is the hypocrisy of political language.~ Georges Ripert Elections are a good deal like marriages, there's no accounting for anyone's taste. Every time we see a bridegroom we wonder why she ever picked him, and it's the same with Public Officials.~ Will Rogers I guess truth can hurt you worse in an election than about anything that can happen to you.~ Will Rogers On account of us being a democracy and run by the people, we are the only people in the world that has to keep a government four years no matter what it does.~ Will Rogers On account of being a democracy and run by the people, we are the only nation in the world that has to keep a government four years, no matter what it does.~ Will Rogers The creed of our democracy is that liberty is acquired and kept by men and women who are strong and self-reliant, and possessed of such wisdom as God gives mankind -- men and women who are just, and understanding, and generous to others -- men and women who are capable of disciplining themselves. For they are the rulers and they must rule themselves.~ Franklin D. Roosevelt Fortunately, political freedom and economic progress are natural partners. Despite capitalism's lingering reputation as the source of all the world's evils, the fact remains that every single democracy is a capitalist country. Half a century of economic experimentation proved beyond doubt that tyranny cannot yield prosperity. ... Socialism collapsed because it is a policy of unrestrained intervention. It tries to fix what is 'wrong' with the spontaneous, self-organizaing phenomenon called capitalism. But, of course, a natural process cannot be 'fixed.' ... Socialism is an ideology. Capitalism is a natural phenomenon.~ Michael Rothschild Envy is the basis of Democracy.~ Bertrand Russell The 'strength' of the People becomes weak when we don't 'exercise' our rights.~ Eric Schaub Democracy is more cruel than wars or tyrants.~ Lucius Annaeus Seneca The merit of our Constitution was, not that it promotes democracy, but checks it.~ Horatio Seymour Democracy is a form of government that substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.~ George Bernard Shaw An election is a moral horror, as bad as a battle except for blood; a mud bath for every soul concerned in it.~ George Bernard Shaw Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.~ George Bernard Shaw Previous 20 quotes Next 20 quotes Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print