Democracy Quotes

Democracy is a small hard core of common agreement, surrounded by a rich variety of individual differences.

Against Democrats the only remedy is soldiers.

Democracy is no way to run a government, which is why the Founding Fathers seldom used the word “democracy.” The United States was founded as a republic, with elected representatives governing within the limited confines of the Constitution. It wasn’t until the rise of Populism and Woodrow Wilson’s declaration that the United States should “make […]

A democracy unsatisfied (by support of the people) cannot long survive… We live in probably the most turbulent and tormented times in the history of this nation. Criticize… disagree, yes, but we also have as leaders an obligation to be fair and keep in perspective what we are and what we hope to be.

Democracy is not a state in which people act like sheep.

What made democracy unique, in the mind of its inventors, wasn’t voting: that was just a means to the end. What’s unique about democracy is that it’ s the only form of governance in the 6000 year history of modern civilization in which the power, authority, and credibility of government is derived from its citizens, […]

A monarchy is like a man-of-war, bad shots between wind and water hurt it exceedingly; there is danger of capsizing. But democracy is a raft. You cannot easily overturn it. It is a wet place but a pretty safe one.

The rule of majority does not mean that it should suppress the opinion of even an individual, if it is sound. An individual’s opinion should have greater weight than the opinion of many, if that opinion is sound on merits. That is my view of real democracy.

Democracy is a process, not a static condition. It is becoming, rather than being. It can easily be lost, but never is fully won. Its essence is eternal struggle.

There is no force so democratic as the force of an ideal.