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Quotes about democracy

108 quotes from 83 people

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This is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people no longer. It is a government of corporations, by corporations, and for corporations.
Rutherford B. Hayes1822–1893Diary (11 March 1888)
- Business
- Government
Our country is more important than the politics of the moment. Let the officials elected by the people fulfill their duties and represent our voices in peace and safety.
George W. Bushborn 1946Comments on the storming of US Capitol (2021)
- Politics
There can be no constitutional democracy in any community which denies to the individual his freedom to speak and worship as he wishes.
Franklin D. Roosevelt1882–1945Fireside Chat (24 June 1938)
- Freedom
England is a capitalist democracy. Germany is a socialist people’s state.
Joseph Goebbels1897–1945“Englands Schuld,” Illustrierter Beobachter, Sondernummer, p. 14. The article is not dated, but is from the early months of the war, likely late fall of 1939
- Politics
We cannot have government for all the people until we first make certain it is government of and by all the people.
Lyndon B. Johnson1908–1973Special message to Congress on the right to vote (1965)
- Government
Democratical States must always feel before they can see: it is this that makes their Governments slow, but the people will be right at last.
George Washington1732–1799Letter to the Marquis de Lafayette (25 July 1785)
- Government
How do you cause people to believe in an imagined order such as Christianity, democracy or capitalism? First, you never admit that the order is imagined.
Yuval Noah Harariborn 1976Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind (2011), Chapter 6: “Building Pyramids”
- Religion
It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Abraham Lincoln1809–1865The Gettysburg Address (1863)
- Freedom
- Government
We’ve learned again that democracy is precious; democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.
Joe Bidenborn 1942Joe Biden’s Inaugural Address (2021)
If you’re tired of arguing with strangers on the internet, try to talk with one in real life. If something needs fixing, lace up your shoes and do some organizing. If you’re disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself.
Barack Obamaborn 1961Barack Obama’s Farewell Address (2017)
- Politics
- Responsibility
Democracy does not require uniformity. Our founders quarreled and compromised, and expected us to do the same. But they knew that democracy does require a basic sense of solidarity⁠—the idea that for all our outward differences, we are all in this together; that we rise or fall as one.
Barack Obamaborn 1961Barack Obama’s Farewell Address (2017)
Our Constitution is a remarkable, beautiful gift. But it’s really just a piece of parchment. It has no power on its own. We, the people, give it power⁠—with our participation, and the choices we make.
Barack Obamaborn 1961Barack Obama’s Farewell Address (2017)
- Government
- Responsibility
Democracy, which is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequals alike.
Plato429–349 BCThe Republic (c. 375 BC), Book VIIIIn context
- Government
What is the city but the people?
William Shakespeare1564–1616Coriolanus (c. 1608), Act III, Scene I, spoken by SiciniusIn context
- Politics
Every law the people has not ratified in person is null and void⁠—is, in fact, not a law.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau1712–1778The Social Contract (1762), Book III, Chapter XVIn context
- Laws