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Our system, which we call democracy, at least leaves us the right from time to time to get rid of those who wish to govern us. And, if it's nowhere near Utopia, it is probably the best of all imperfect systems. All I can do is to advise you to be very cautious of those who claim to represent you and order you about for your own good.

— John Mortimer

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More quotes by John Mortimer

I suppose that writers should, in a way, feel flattered by the censorship laws. They show a primitive fear and dread at the fearful magic of print.

The shelf life of the modern hardback writer is somewhere between the milk and the yoghurt.

If you can't sleep with your own wife wearing a false beard, what can you do?

A "war against terrorism" is an impracticable conception if it means fighting terrorism with terrorism. The feelings on both sides are not that they are taking part in some evil and criminal act but risking their lives heroically for what they consider to be a just cause.

No brilliance is needed in the law. Nothing but common sense, and relatively clean finger nails.

Voyage Round My Father (1971)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: John Mortimer (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.