DEMOCRACY WISDOM

There is one safeguard known generally to the wise, which is an advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as against despots. What is it? Distrust. (Demosthenes)

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
(Franklin)

When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic. (Franklin)

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty. (Franklin)

The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself. (Franklin)

. . . a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles . . . is absolutely necessary to preserve the blessings of liberty and keep a government free. (Franklin)

This will be the best security for maintaining our liberties. A nation of well-informed men who have been taught to know and prize [their] rights . . . cannot be enslaved. It is in the religion of ignorance that tyranny begins. (Franklin)

The spirit of democracy cannot be imposed from without. It has to come from within. (Gandhi)

The spirit of democracy cannot be established in the midst of terrorism, whether governmental or popular. (Gandhi)

Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country. (Goering)

The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment. (Hutchins)

As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their hearts desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron. (Mencken),1920

A good politician under democracy is quite as unthinkable as an honest burglar. (Mencken)

It is not the fact of liberty but the way in which liberty is exercised that ultimately determines whether liberty itself survives. (Thompson)

So long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those who wish to tyrannize will do so; for tyrants are active and ardent, and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods, religious and otherwise, to put shackles upon sleeping men. (Voltaire)

Democracy is the Tinkerbell of political systems. If you do not believe in her, she cannot exist. (Zacharia)