Archive

Quotes

Even though counting heads is not an ideal way to govern, at least it is better than breaking them.

—Learned Hand, 1932

Television is democracy at its ugliest.

—Paddy Chayefsky, 1976

In a true democracy, everyone can be upper-class and live in Connecticut.

—Lisa Birnbach, 1980

The world is wearied of statesmen whom democracy has degraded into politicians.

—Benjamin Disraeli, 1870

Whenever in history equality appeared on the agenda, it was exported somewhere else, like an undesirable.

—Mary McCarthy, 1971

Democracy is the fig leaf of elitism.

—Florence King, 1989

If the people be the governors, who shall be governed?

—John Cotton, c. 1636

I have often been convinced that a democracy is incapable of empire.

—Thucydides, c. 404 BC

Vox populi, vox humbug.

—William Tecumseh Sherman, 1863

When we define democracy now, it must still be as a thing hoped for but not seen.

—Pearl S. Buck, 1941

Nothing but a permanent body can check the imprudence of democracy.

—Alexander Hamilton, 1787

The king times are fast finishing. There will be blood shed like water, and tears like mist; but the peoples will conquer in the end.

—Lord Byron, 1821

The worship of opinion is, at this day, the established religion of the United States.

—Harriet Martineau, 1839