Edmund Barton Quotes

In a democracy, supposedly we hold power by what we do at the ballot box, so therefore the more we know about political power the better our choices should be and the better, in theory, our democracy should be.

The function of a parliamentary democracy, under universal suffrage, historically considered, is to expose wealth-privilege to the attacks of the people.

Public participation in the process of government is the essence of democracy.

Somebody is going to be making the laws for this entire country. It could be you. Will it be you?

Let's say there are 500 sons and daughters like you in each state. Then we could control the government.

Freedom to vote is valuable primarily as a means to safeguard other freedoms.

The great constitutional corrective in the hands of the people against usurpation of power, or corruption by their agents is the right of suffrage; and this when used with calmness and deliberation will prove strong enough.

The great thing about our system of democracy is when they call you for jury duty, you have to come... It's an honor and a privilege. I was called and I've got to be here.

The extension of suffrage will not forbid the supremacy of intelligence.

Under universal suffrage the elected are those who know best how to take in the masses. The minority, which may happen to be the half minus one, is sacrificed.

Give all of the governed a voice in their government; that and that alone is self government.

The right of voting for representatives is the primary right by which other rights are protected. To take away this right is to reduce a man to slavery, for slavery consists in being subject to the will of another, and he that has not a vote in the election of representatives is in this case.

What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people.

Although universal suffrage may not be a panacea for all social problems, it does have a profound bearing on the democratic development and governance of a place.

With universal suffrage, every chief executive candidate must face the seven million people of Hong Kong, explain his or her political platform and mission, and win over the people by addressing their interests and concerns.

I don't normally vote. I'm lazy and I never bought into the 'Every vote counts.'

Women waited 144 years before earning suffrage. If a mature, multiparty democracy was so darn easy, everybody would have one.

You can't be a full participant in our democracy if you don't know our history.

When we talk about fighting for our country, we're talking about our vote, our vote is our arms.

A man without a vote is man without protection.

To lead a country, you must periodically hold a national consultation in which people representing different programmes can make a bid for power.

If you know how to read, you have a complete education about life, then you know how to vote within a democracy. But if you don't know how to read, you don't know how to decide. That's the great thing about our country - we're a democracy of readers, and we should keep it that way.

The democratic process is only as great as the people who participate in it.

Trumpeting the importance of voting deludes people into thinking that they have a leash on the government.

In a democratic set-up, people who are being governed should also be a part of the governing system. They should be drafted into the governance.