Stephen Bethlen Quotes

The young man who is moved in any way to contemplate an entry into public life … learns first of all to understand that there are two great political organizations, with one of which he must associate himself, learning and echoing its catch-words, accepting its leadership, and steeping himself in the belief that in it are wisdom and truth while the other party is void of both

What is democracy?—an aristocracy of blackguards.

Democracy, which means despair of finding any Heroes to govern you, and contented putting up with the want of them.

The democracy of the Western countries is the predecessor of Marxism, which would be unthinkable without democracy.

A democratic government must always be left free to be operated upon by the will of the majority of the time being. All that the government of the day can do is to ascertain what now appears to be the best principle.

In our form of democracy the expression of the popular will can be effected only through the instrumentality of political parties. We maintain party government not to promote intolerant partisanship but because opportunity must be given for expression of the popular will

Democracy is the only true political expression of Christianity

Democracy is like virginity. You can’t have just some of it.

The real strength of the democratic theory in opposition to the fascist or communist is that the fascist frankly states that certain people will tell other people what they shall do to be happy, and those other people have little or nothing to say about it. In theory the communists were to do everything in common, in practice a small group there also tells other people what they shall do to achieve their objectives. So far more nearly than any other form of government, the democratic form has allowed people to shape their own government

Democracy is always a threat to the powerful.

But every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. We have been called by different names brethren of the same principle. We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists.

The practical core of democracy, defined functionally, is the peaceful exchange of power between different groups of powerful political players arranged in parties.

Certainly we disagree with the Communist Party, as we disagree with other political parties who are trying to maintain the American way of life.

Democracy is not about one party dominating.

I think more so than the Republican Party, we reflect America on the Democratic side of the aisle, and that's a healthy thing. I mean, that's what democracy is all about.

The most biased people are the Democrats.

Democracy is beautiful in theory; in practice it is a fallacy.

Ironically, the very fact that democracy has such a lengthy history has actually contributed to confusion and disagreement, for 'democracy' has meant different things to different people at different times and places.

Democracy doesn't recognize east or west; democracy is simply people's will. Therefore, I do not acknowledge that there are various models of democracy; there is just democracy itself.

The genius of democracies is seen not only in the great number of new words introduced but even more in the new ideas they express.

In a democracy there is a centralization of governmental power in a simple majority.

Democracy is not so much a form of government as a set of principles.

My message is that Democracy is not an alien invention. It is a way of solving problems in our society.

As for life within a Legislature,— who can tell how warped and bent and twisted, and accommodated to the exigencies of party struggle become the faculties of belief?

We must reflect more on what democracy in the exercise of authority would mean. Is truth determined by a majority vote, only for a new 'truth' to be 'discovered' by a new majority tomorrow?