#democracy

Wenn wir uns der Verfolgung des freien Geistes während der Diktatur besinnen, werden wir die Freiheit jedes Gedankens und jeder Kritik schützen, so sehr sie sich auch gegen uns selbst richten mag." [Ansprache am 8. Mai 1985 in der Gedenkstunde im Plenarsaal des Deutschen Bundestages] ↗

— Richard von Weizsäcker

#democracy #dictatorship #freedom #persecution #politics

Our mission is not to impose our peculiar institutions upon other nations by physical force or diplomatic treachery but rather by internal peace and prosperity to solve the problem of self-government and reconcile democratic freedom with national stability. ↗

— Benjamin Harrison

#foreign-relations #government #freedom

The more degrees of freedom there are in practice, the wider the discussion and debate can be. ↗

— Thomas Newkirk

#freedom #ideas #freedom

Der Staat, der nur wegen und aus der Freiheit seiner Menschen besteht, darf sich nicht gegen seine Schöpfer wenden. ↗

— Heribert Prantl

#freedom #rechtsstaat #freedom

Our great democracies still tend to think that a stupid man is more likely to be honest than a clever man. ↗

— Bertrand Russell

#democracy #funny #humour #politics #revolution

When occasions present themselves in which the interests of the people are at variance with their inclinations, it is the duty of the persons whom they have appointed to be the guardians of those interests to withstand the temporary delusion in order to give them time and opportunity for more cool and sedate reflection. Instances might be cited in which a conduct of this kind has saved the people from very fatal consequences of their own mistakes, and has procured lasting monuments of their gratitude to the men who had courage and magnanimity enough to serve them at the peril of their displeasure. ↗

— Alexander Hamilton

#government-leadership #courage

There are many countries but few nations. We are committed to building Nigeria into a most desirable nation to live ↗

— Fela Durotoye

#democracy #leadership #leadership-development #nations #nigeria

Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.' ↗

— Isaac Asimov

#elite #elitism #elitist #voter #voting

it is the people who control the Government, not the Government the people. ↗

— Winston Churchill

#democracy

Democracy is the worship of jackals by jackasses. ↗

— H.L. Mencken

#democracy