#racy

It is a curious thought that the earliest description of the steam-engine in antiquity describes its use for the magic opening of the temple doors, when the priests lit the fires on the altars, to deceive the populace into ascribing to a deity what was the work of the engineer. In much the same way today, the almost boundless fecundity of the creative scientific discoveries and inventions of the age are being appropriated for the purpose of the mysterious opening of doors into the holy of holies of the temples of mammon by a hierarchy of imposters and humbugs, whom it is the first task of a sane civilization to expose and clear out. ↗

— Frederick Soddy

#money #politics #science #technocracy #age

I have made a film about jazz that tries to look through jazz to see what it tells us about who we are as a people. I think that jazz is a spectacularly accurate model of democracy and a kind of look into our redemptive future possibilities. ↗

— Ken Burns

#accurate #democracy #film #future #i

The aspirations of democracy are based on the notion of an informed citizenry, capable of making wise decisions. The choices we are asked to make become increasingly complex. They require the longer-term thinking and greater tolerance for ambiguity that science fosters. The new economy is predicated on a continuous pipeline of scientific and technological innovation. It can not exist without workers and consumers who are mathematically and scientifically literate. ↗

— Ann Druyan

#decisions #democracy #economy #intelligence #literate

In our film profession you may have Gable's looks, Tracy's art, Marlene's legs or Liz's violet eyes, but they don't mean a thing without that swinging thing called courage. ↗

— Frank Capra

#called #courage #eyes #film #gable

But at the same time, I think we recognize we can't impose democracy from without, particularly American-style democracy. We need to work with those elements in the region that are moving towards a reformed process and there are a number of them. ↗

— Frank Carlucci

#democracy #elements #i #i think #impose

Democracy, as has been said of Christianity, has never really been tried. ↗

— Stuart Chase

#christianity #democracy #never #really #said

I think there should be a literacy test and a poll tax for people to vote. ↗

— Ann Coulter

#i think #literacy #people #poll #should

Age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered. As the elders said, if a child washed his hands he could eat with kings. ↗

— Chinua Achebe

#meritocracy #age

Sir, I am a republican; and I desire to see this House observe the principles of that democracy which is ever on the lips of its members, and which, I hope, is in their hearts, as I know and feel it is in mine, and mean it shall be in my conduct. ↗

— Caleb Cushing

#conduct #democracy #desire #ever #feel

There are a lot of books about the passing of the English aristocracy, but the vast majority of Long Islanders don't understand their own backyard. It's a private preserve. ↗

— Nelson DeMille

#aristocracy #backyard #books #english #long