Roger Cohen Quotes

Democracy cannot flourish amid fear.

A republic—if you can keep it.

Democracies, unlike dictatorships, are forgiving and generous, but they cannot survive unless they fight.

No country is free unless it is democratic.

We've got to understand that the whole nature of the way American democracy guards its freedom has been changed.

I like the noise of democracy.

In our modern age - in the age of free information - I don't think there is any place for dictatorships.

In a democracy, dissent is an act of faith.

I think it's obvious that democracy is something that is contagious, and it always has been.

When we say 'democracy' we have to mean what we say.

In a democracy one must have the right to express oneself and that's what I do, even if it displeases.

Democracy literally means the power of people. Democracy is not about politics, it is about the people.

Democracy takes time. Dictatorship is quicker, but too many people get shot.

Democracy is the form of government in which the free are rulers.

Free discussion is the only necessary Constitution.

Democracy is the least static form of society. Its basis is reason not authority.

Democracy is very powerful but very fragile.

Democracy needs leaders, not masters.

Democracy is much too important to be left to public opinion.

The will of the people... is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object

It is only in the freest of nations that people can not only criticize the government, fairly or unfairly, but in extraordinarily few—only the greatest—do the negative criticisms get very wide distribution. Look for the nation where their media are full of criticisms, and there you will find a nation sufficiently free and confident to consider possible improvement from any and all sources.

No democracy pretends to be a tyranny. Most tyrannies pretend they are democracies. Democracy remains the definition of political legitimacy.

Freedom means the right of people to assemble, organize, and debate openly.

Hand in hand with freedom of speech goes the power to be heard, to share in the decisions of government which shape men's lives.

I can't emphasize how important free speech is to a liberal and free democracy.