Democracy Quotes - Page 21

• The money power preys on the nation in times of peace, and conspires against it in times of adversity. It is more despotic than monarchy, more insolent than autocracy, more selfish than bureaucracy. It denounces, as public enemies, all who question its methods or throw light upon its crimes.

  Abraham Lincoln

  Money, Selfish, Adversity

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• What is true, just, and beautiful is not determined by popular vote. The masses everywhere are ignorant, short-sighted, motivated by envy, and easy to fool. Democratic politicians must appeal to these masses in order to be elected. Whoever is the best demagogue will win. Almost by necessity, then, democracy will lead to the perversion of truth, justice and beauty.

  Hans-Hermann Hoppe

  Beauty, Beautiful, Truth

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• I talk democracy to these men and women. I tell them that they have the vote, and that theirs is the kingdom and the power and the glory. I say to them You are supreme: exercise your power. They say, That's right: tell us what to do; and I tell them. I say Exercise our vote intelligently by voting for me. And they do. That's democracy; and a splendid thing it is too for putting the right men in the right place.

  George Bernard Shaw

  Exercise, Power, Men

  George Bernard Shaw (2015). “George Bernard Shaw: The Collected Plays (Illustrated): 60 plays including Caesar and Cleopatra, Pygmalion, Saint Joan, The Apple Cart, Cymbeline, Androcles And The Lion, The Man Of Destiny, The Inca Of Perusalem and Macbeth Skit”, p.3389, e-artnow

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• The principle of majority rule is the mildest form in which the force of numbers can be exercised. It is a pacific substitute for civil war in which the opposing armies are counted and the victory is awarded to the larger before any blood is shed. Except in the sacred tests of democracy and in the incantations of the orators, we hardly take the trouble to pretend that the rule of the majority is not at bottom a rule of force.

  Walter Lippmann

  War, Army, Blood

  Walter Lippmann (2003). “Men of Destiny (Ppr)”, p.58, Transaction Publishers

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• Having a vote once every four years is not the same thing as democracy.

  Hugh Laurie

  Years, Four, Vote

  Hugh Laurie (1998). “The Gun Seller”, p.160, Simon and Schuster

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• Frankly, I don't think you should perform in a plaza where thousands of Cubans have been subjected to the death penalty, by firing squad, including three young black men in 2003. What is needed in Cuba is a concert in favor of democracy, civil liberties for the people, the freedom of political prisoners, free elections and the expulsion of dictatorial power.

  Zoe Valdes

  Men, Thinking, Squad

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• The American People are witnessing the greatest lie that is cleverly orchestrated by President Obama and his whole administration. President Obama feeds people poison, giving them the idea that they are entitled to take from the wealthier who have lived and worked in a democracy that understands that capitalism is the only truth that keeps a nation healthy ... [Obama uses] a socialistic, Marxist teaching, and with it, he rapes this nation.

  Jon Voight

  Lying, Teaching, Ideas

  "Jon Voight: Obama ‘Rapes This Nation’", www.huffingtonpost.com. June 13, 2010.

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• I am against revolution and am proud of it. Democracy cannot be created through revolutions. The most important dichotomy that I make for a society is between those who support democracy and human rights, and those who oppose it. In a totalitarian state, the state views any act of an individual to be political in nature. For example, the clothing that a person wears in a modern state is a private affair whereas in the Islamic Republic all women are forced to wear the hijab (Islamic attire). When women push their headscarf back an inch or two, this is interpreted to be a political act.

  Akbar Ganji

  Islamic, Rights, Views

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• Every one of the aristocratic conspirators and would-be murderers claims to be an arch-patriot; every one of them insists that the war is being waged to make the world safe for democracy. What humbug! What rot! What false pretense! These... tyrants, these red-handed robbers and murderers, the "patriots," while the men who have the courage to stand face to face with them, speak the truth, and fight for their exploited victims - they are [called] the disloyalists and traitors. If this be true, I want to take my place side by side with the traitors in this fight.

  Eugene V. Debs

  War, Fighting, Men

  Eugene V. Debs' speech he gave across the street from a jail, where he had just visited three socialists who were in prison for opposing the draft, June 1918.

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• I believe in trade unionism, and I believe in democracy, in democratic trade unionism.

  Richard Attenborough

  Believe, Democratic, Trade

  "Biography/Personal Quotes". www.imdb.com.

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• Undeniably, character does count for our citizens, out communities, and our Nation, and this week we celebrate the importance of character in our individual lives... core ethical values of trustworthiness, fairness, responsibility, caring, respect, and citizenship form the foundation of our democracy, our economy, and our society... Instilling sound character in our children is essential to maintaining the strength of our Nation into the 21st century.

  William J. Clinton

  Children, Responsibility, Character

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• Democracy, the deceitful theory that the Jew would insinuate - namely, that theory that all men are created equal.

  Adolf Hitler

  Men, Deceitful, Theory

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• Democracies don't go to war against each other, and by and large they don't sponsor terrorism. They're more likely to respect the environment and human rights and social justice. It's no accident that most of the terrorists come from non-democratic countries.

  William J. Clinton

  Country, War, Rights

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• Democracy in China is like Viagra; no such thing as free elections.

  George Montgomery

  Viagra, Election, China

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• It’s sad. Marxism didn’t work. Communism didn’t work. Capitalism doesn’t work.  Nothing works. Even democracy doesn’t work. Democracy-the greatest form of government and we have two choices for who’s our leader. In fascism you only have one choice. That’s great. We have one more choice than the worst form of government.

  Colin Quinn

  Sad, Leadership, Work

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• If the test of patriotism comes only by reflexively falling into lockstep behind the leader whenever the flag is waved, then what we have is a formula for dictatorship, not democracy.

  Michael Pare

  Fall, Leader, Political

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• The financial system in its current condition poses an existential threat to Western democracy far exceeding any terrorist threat.

  John Lanchester

  Financial, Existential, Currents

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• A modern, harmonic and lively architecture is the visible sign of authentic democracy.

  Walter Gropius

  Architecture, Modern, Lively

  "Words of Art: Inspiring Quotes from the Masters". Book published by Adams Media, 2013.

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• The vision I would like to see here is the entrenching of the Jewish and the Zionist state. I very much favor democracy, but when there is a contradiction between democratic and Jewish values, the Jewish and Zionist values are more important.

  Avigdor Lieberman

  Jewish Values, Vision, Important

  "The Rise of Avigdor Lieberman". Ben Lynfield, The Nation, December 14, 2006.

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• Democracy is the opposite of totalitarianism, communism, fascism, or mobocracy.

  Frank Lloyd Wright

  Opposites, Communism, Fascism

  Frank Lloyd Wright (1995). “Frank Lloyd Wright Collected Writings: 1949-1959”, Rizzoli International Publications

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• The western world, the free world, loses what it cherishes most, and that is freedom and liberty we've seen for a couple of hundred years in this grand experiment that we call democracy.

  Tommy Franks

  Couple, Years, Liberty

  "General Tommy Franks". Interview with Marvin R. Shanken, www.cigaraficionado.com. November, 2003.

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• All murder is a tragedy but when journalists are killed, public debate loses a voice that can provide an important contribution to democracy. It is essential that governments do all they can to ensure safe conditions for journalists to carry out their work.

  Irina Bokova

  Government, Voice, Tragedy

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• In any democracy, there is always a tug-of-war between policies to achieve equality and policies to promote excellence. I am certain that Canada can achieve both equality and excellence.

  John Turner

  War, Excellence, Canada

  John Turner's speech at Liberal Party Leadership convention at Ottawa Civic Centre in Ontario, April 5, 1968.

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• The art of government is the organization of idolatry. The bureaucracy consists of functionaries; the aristocracy, of idols; the democracy, of idolaters. The populace cannot understand the bureaucracy: it can only worship the national idols.

  George Bernard Shaw

  Art, Government, Idols

  Man and Superman (1903) "Maxims for Revolutionists: Idolatry"

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• I say us - obviously I don't vote as I believe democracy is a pointless spectacle where we choose between two indistinguishable political parties, neither of whom represent the people but the interest of powerful business elites that run the world.

  Russell Brand

  Running, Powerful, Party

  "Russell Brand: Democracy is pointless" by Caitlin Mcdevitt, www.politico.com. June 04, 2012.

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