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Democracy Quotes

Barack Obama and the Nigerian president Bola Tinubu have the most entries, with H. L. Mencken and Franklin Roosevelt behind them, so a lot of the page is speeches. For the dry material go to Mencken in Smart Set (1910), who called democracy the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard; Shaw’s Maxims for Revolutionists (1903), on election by the incompetent many instead of appointment by the corrupt few; and Disraeli’s Lothair (1870).

“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch” is credited to Benjamin Franklin and flagged misattributed. The earliest version in the notes is a Usenet post from 23 April 1990. The line that democracy is the most vile form of government, credited to Madison, is flagged too.

Random quote on Democracy

Most quoted on democracy:

I don’t think we are tired of democracy. We are not tired of democracy at all.

Richard Akinjide

We all agree that a vibrant and vocal opposition is essential to the health of a democracy. What is all too often missed is the quality of that opposition.

Pallo Jordan

The tree of democracy must inevitably be watered with blood. In this case, I am prepared to be the sacrificial lamb.

PLO Lumumba

If a government is doing well in the estimation of stakeholders, it is allowed in a democracy for such legislators to cross carpet.

Barry Mpigi

Canada can no longer view the United States as an ally. We know that Donald Trump doesn’t believe in liberal democracy.

Charlie Angus Canadian politician rips Trump as ‘gangster president’ ahead of G7 visit (2025)

[T]he British workman has more to hope for from the rising tide of Tory democracy than from the dried up drain-pipe of Radicalism.

Winston Churchill

The case for trade is not just monetary, but moral. Economic freedom creates habits of liberty. And habits of liberty create expectations of democracy.

George W. Bush A Distinctly American Internationalism (1999)

You can get quite far in a democracy if you can convince a majority that they are victims of a minority, and that only you can protect them.

Garry Kasparov On twitter (2016)

Time after time, social media and the Internet are viewed as a serious threat to dictators and, conversely, a liberating platform for democracy.

Newton Lee

Democracy is not exercised only once in a while, but entails a continuing dialogue between representatives and constituents

Alfred-Maurice de Zayas

Polarization is normal. More to the point, I would add, skepticism about liberal democracy is also normal. And the appeal of authoritarianism is eternal.

Anne Applebaum A Warning From Europe: The Worst is Yet to Come (2018)

For journalists, for people at the front lines of trying to fight for truth, this is an existential moment for journalism and for democracy

Maria Ressa Time 100 Speech (2019)

I am very honoured to be elected the speaker of FFPP. I promise to continue promoting the interests of our forum which promotes democracy .

Alvera Mukabaramba

Democracy has some good points, but it ain't hardly what most Americans think it is.

James Meredith Interview with Jackson Free Press (2008)

Our nation is not perfect, but it is strong. Our democracy is not invincible, but it is alive.

Bola Tinubu

But if there is anybody that we can give credit to who has stabilised democracy in Nigeria today, it is General Abdulsalami Abubakar

Goodluck Jonathan

Elections are not democracy. Holding regular elections is not democracy.

Ayisha Osori

The main principle of a democracy is that the rights of any one group, be it minority or majority, are connected with the rights of all groups.

Morris Schappes Minorities, Unite! (1944)

The ‘love’ and ‘peace’ by which we swear are threadbare with abuse As freedom and equality, Democracy and the like

Geormbeeyi Adali-Mortty

"It was a devised work using South African poetry, projected photographs, dance and narration to chart the country’s transition from Apartheid to democracy.

Nadia Davids

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