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Quotes about democracy

108 quotes from 83 people

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A democratic civilization will save itself only if it makes the language of the image into a stimulus for critical reflection — not an invitation for hypnosis.
Umberto Eco1932–2016“Can Television Teach?” in Screen Education 31 (1979), p. 12
- Television
This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic — not our democratic republic.
George W. Bushborn 1946Comments on the storming of US Capitol (2021)
- Voting
Every man has a right to be heard; but no man has the right to strangle democracy with a single set of vocal cords.
Adlai Stevenson II1900–1965Speech in New York City (28 August 1952)
- Debate
A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority. There is but little virtue in the action of masses of men.
Henry David Thoreau1817–1862Civil Disobedience (1849)In context
- Wisdom
If Selma taught us anything, it’s that our work is never done. The American experiment in self-government gives work and purpose to each generation.
Barack Obamaborn 1961Selma 50th Anniversary Address (2015)
- America
In terms of our liberal democracy and constitutional order, Trump is an extinction-level event. It’s long past time we started treating him as such.
Andrew Sullivanborn 1963“America Has Never Been So Ripe for Tyranny” in New York Magazine (2 May 2016)
- Politics
The electoral college is a disaster for a democracy.
Donald Trumpborn 1946Tweets on November 6 and 7, 2012, some of which were later deleted
- Voting
A despotism may almost be defined as a tired democracy.
G. K. Chesterton1874–1936The Everlasting Man (1925)
- Government
Today, freedom is on the offensive, democracy is on the march.
Douglas MacArthur1880–1964Victory broadcast (1945)
- Freedom
The engineering of consent is the very essence of the democratic process, the freedom to persuade and suggest.
Edward Bernays1891–1995“The Engineering of Consent”, Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 250 (March 1947), p. 113
Islam and its idealism have taught us democracy. It has taught equality of man, justice and fairplay to everybody.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah1876–1948Broadcast to the people of the United States of America on Pakistan (February 1948)
- Religion
We set up government by consent of the governed, and the Bill of Rights denies those in power any legal opportunity to coerce that consent.
Robert H. Jackson1892–1954West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943), 319 U.S. 641
- Government
I think democracy is the most revolutionary thing in the world, because if you have power you use it to meet the needs of you and your community.
Tony Benn1925–2014Interview with Michael Moore in the movie Sicko (2007).
- Power
It has been observed that a pure democracy if it were practicable would be the most perfect government. Experience has proved that no position is more false than this.
Alexander Hamilton1757–1804Speech in New York, urging ratification of the U.S. Constitution (21 June 1788)
- Government
Do you never stop to reflect just what it is that America stands for? If she stands for one thing more than another, it is for the sovereignty of self-governing peoples.
Woodrow Wilson1856–1924Speech on Military Preparedness, Pittsburgh (29 January 1916)
- America