#democracy

It was not man who implanted in himself what is infinite and the love of what is immortal: those lofty instincts are not the offspring of his capricious will; their steadfast foundation is fixed in human nature, and they exist in spite of his efforts. He may cross and distort them – destroy them he cannot. The soul wants which must be satisfied; and whatever pains be taken to divert it from itself, it soon grows weary, restless, and disquieted amidst the enjoyments of sense. ↗

— Alexis de Tocqueville

#eternity #immortal #satisfy #love

So much of liberalism in its classical sense is taken for granted in the west today and even disrespected. We take freedom for granted, and because of this we don't understand how incredibly vulnerable it is. ↗

— Niall Ferguson

#freedom #liberalism #liberty #freedom

[N]icht durch Reden und Majoritätsbeschlüsse werden die großen Fragen der Zeit entschiedenen [...] sondern durch Eisen und Blut. ↗

— Otto von Bismarck

#dictatorship #history #war #dictatorship

The Democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. ↗

— Thomas Jefferson

#inspirational #politics #inspirational

Democracy arose from men's thinking that if they are equal in any respect, they are equal absolutely. ↗

— Aristotle

#equality #freedom #equality

To view the opposition as dangerous is to misunderstand the basic concepts of democracy. To oppress the opposition is to assault the very foundation of democracy. ↗

— Aung San Suu Kyi

#freedom #freedom-of-speech #politics #freedom

In order every one in our homeland learns principles of democracy and the peaceful transition of power, and in order to stabilize and develop multiple choices in democratic practice. ↗

— Ali A. Saleh

#democracy #democratic #develop #every #homeland

The risk of a terrorist victory is greater when in fighting terror, democracy betrays its own essence. ↗

— Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero

#democracy #essence #fighting #greater #own

A democracy is a volcano which conceals the fiery materials of its own destruction. These will produce an eruption and carry desolation in their way. ↗

— Fisher Ames

#conceals #democracy #desolation #destruction #eruption

The problem with the West is that they start with political reform going towards democracy. If you want to go towards democracy, the first thing is to involve the people in decision making, not to make it. ↗

— Bashar al-Assad

#decision making #democracy #first #first thing #go