Democracy Quotes

“The thing about democracy, beloveds, is that it is not neat, orderly, or quiet. It requires a certain relish for confusion.”

“We need to reform the political system, or we'll lose the democracy. I don't think it's that hard. It doesn't take rocket science.”

“I think we need to respect the wishes of voters.”

“Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit.”

“The spirit of democracy cannot be imposed from without. It has to come from within.”

“A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.”

“The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.”

“Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself.”

“All the blood is drained out of democracy; it dies when only half the population votes.”

“Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few.”

“Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education.”

“Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are the voters of this country.”

“Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves, and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”

“We must be the great arsenal of democracy.”

“Today we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another; we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the people.”

“Liberty and equality will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost.”

“It falls to each of us to be those anxious, jealous guardians of our democracy.”

“I'm the president of the United States. I'm not the emperor of the United States.”

“Here, sir, the people govern; here they act by their immediate representatives.”

“It has been observed that a pure democracy if it were practicable would be the most perfect government. Experience has proved that no position is more false than this.”

"The world must be made safe for democracy."

Woodrow Wilson

"If we are to keep our democracy, there must be one commandment: Thou shalt not ration justice."

Learned Hand

“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.”

Thomas Jefferson

“Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library.”

Lady Bird Johnson

“As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy.”