#racy

Constitutional democracy, you see, is no romantic notion. It's our defense against ourselves, the one foe who might defeat us. ↗

— Bill Moyers

#defense #democracy #inspirational #romance #wisdom

Each letter of the alphabet is a steadfast loyal soldier in a great army of words, sentences, paragraphs, and stories. One letter falls, and the entire language falters. ↗

— Vera Nazarian

#grammar #language #languages #letter #literacy

I am a democrat [proponent of democracy] because I believe in the Fall of Man. I think most people are democrats for the opposite reason. A great deal of democratic enthusiasm descends from the ideas of people like Rousseau, who believed in democracy because they thought mankind so wise and good that every one deserved a share in the government. The danger of defending democracy on those grounds is that they’re not true. . . . I find that they’re not true without looking further than myself. I don’t deserve a share in governing a hen-roost. Much less a nation. . . . The real reason for democracy is just the reverse. Mankind is so fallen that no man can be trusted with unchecked power over his fellows. Aristotle said that some people were only fit to be slaves. I do not contradict him. But I reject slavery because I see no men fit to be masters. ↗

— C.S. Lewis

#democracy #slavery #men

If there were a nation of Gods, it would govern itself democratically. A government so perfect is not suited to men. ↗

— Jean-Jacques Rousseau

#government #politics #men

Were the judgments of mankind correct, custom would be regulated by the good. But it is often far otherwise in point of fact; for, whatever the many are seen to do, forthwith obtains the force of custom. But human affairs have scarcely ever been so happily constituted as that the better course pleased the greater number. Hence the private vices of the multitude have generally resulted in public error, or rather that common consent in vice which these worthy men would have to be law. ↗

— John Calvin

#god #government #men

Nie pytaj próżno, bo nikt się nie dowie. Jaki nam koniec gotują bogowie, I babilońskich nie pytaj wróżbiarzy. Lepiej tak przyjąć wszystko, jak się zdarzy. A czy z rozkazu Jowisza ta zima, Co teraz wichrem wełny morskie wzdyma, Będzie ostatnia, czy też nam przysporzy Lat jeszcze kilka tajny wyrok boży, Nie troszcz się o to i ... klaruj swe wina. Mknie rok za rokiem, jak jedna godzina. Wiec łap dzień każdy, a nie wierz ni trochę W złudnej przyszłości obietnice płoche. ~Horacy przeł.: Henryk Sienkiewicz ↗

— Horace

#inspirational #leukonoe #polish #sienkiewicz #inspirational

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

Conspiracy theory is the ultimate refuge of the powerless. If you cannot change your own life, it must be that some greater force controls the world. ↗

— Roger Cohen

#change

The only way we'll get freedom for ourselves is to identify ourselves with every oppressed people in the world. We are blood brothers to the people of Brazil, Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba -- yes Cuba too. ↗

— Malcolm X

#democracy #freedom #history #hope #individualism

Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. ↗

— Martin Luther King Jr.

#democracy #freedom #liberation #love #marxism