Democracy Quotes - Page 35

Politics is democracy's way of handling public business. We won't get the type of country in the kind of world we want unless people take part in the public's business.

The test of democracy is freedom of criticism.

Having lived through the transition from totalitarianism, I am acutely mindful of the need to never take for granted the basic freedoms of thought, expression and belief that democracy brings.

We're learning lessons from Africa. And the lesson that we need to learn is, how do we straighten our backs up in the face of these oligarchs and plutocrats who are trying to snatch the best of our democracy away?

The role of dissident is not, and should not be, a claim of membership in a communion of saints. In other words, the more fallible the mammal, the truer the example.

Poetry is the ultimate democracy.

Advertising is the very essence of democracy.

Only in England is the perversion of language regarded as a victory for democracy.

Journalism is what maintains democracy. It's the force for progressive social change.

Democracy is defended in 3 stages. Ballot Box, Jury Box, Cartridge Box.

The practice of arbitrary imprisonments have been, in all ages, the favorite and most formidable instruments of tyranny.

Every revolutionary ends up either by becoming an oppressor or a heretic.

The highest measure of democracy is neither the 'extent of freedom' nor the 'extent of equality', but rather the highest measure of participation.

Democracy is for infidels. A real Muslim is not a democrat because he doesn't care about the opinions of majorities and minorities don't interest him. He is only interested in what Islam says.

Nothing can be more abhorrent to democracy than to imprison a person or keep him in prison because he is unpopular. This is really the test of civilization.

Interactivity has the virtue of democracy, conferring upon everyone with access to a computer the right and opportunity to be heard, but it's also saddled with democracy's vice - a tendency to assume that everyone who has a right to be heard has something to say that's worth hearing.

Democracy is not a mere consequence, a certain stage in the development of society. It is the condition on which the survival of productive forces depends.

And the principle which distinguishes democracy from all other forms of government is that in a democracy the opposition not only is tolerated as constitutional but must be maintained because it is in fact indispensable.

As for democracy, the men of sense among us knew what it was, and I perhaps as well as any, as I have more cause to complain of it; but there is nothing new to be said of a patent absurdity-meanwhile we did not think it safe to alter it under the pressure of your hostility.

It's perfectly OK that there are certain people who do not accept Islam at all. Therefore, to announce that I am a Muslim can rub some people the wrong way. But my aim is to show that those governments that violate the rights of people by invoking the name of Islam have been misusing Islam. They violate these rights and then seek refuge behind the argument that Islam is not compatible with freedom and democracy. But this is basically to save face. In fact, I'm promoting democracy. And I'm saying that Islam is not an excuse for thwarting democracy.

The most important element of democracy, I believe, is the protection of minorities.

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.

Democracy, thus French revolution, was not invented by philosophic theory nor by the bourgeois leadership. It was discovered by the masses in their method of action.

Most faults are not in our Constitution, but in ourselves.

It's all these pundits, all these consultants, and the candidates, as if they're in a bubble leaving democracy off-limits.