Leo Strauss Quotes

Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day.

I always tell my students: I don't care which side you're on. I respect you too much to try to persuade you in 120 minutes a week, much less lure you into pretending that you agree with me. All I want is for you to own this democracy, to see yours, to have a stake in it.

Education makes a people easy to lead, but difficult to drive; easy to govern, but impossible to enslave.

We talk about democracy and human rights. Iraqis talk about justice and honor.

One of the biggest challenges we have, folks, is making liberty and freedom cool.

Everybody's voice matters.

It is easy to stand for freedom and justice in the midst of peace.

You cannot be democratic one day, and undemocratic on another. It is a state of mind, it is a way of living, and it is an essence of action.

The spirit of democracy is not a mechanical thing to be adjusted by abolition of forms. It requires change of heart.

We must look to an open, tolerant, inclusive England, which embraces the values of a Britain that still leads the world in terms of an open democracy, as well as an understanding of the needs for responsibilities and obligations to run alongside the affirmation of individual rights.

Tolerance is carved into the rostrum of the U.S. House of Representatives and intolerance should not be carved into the U.S. Constitution.

Speaking out is important for me because everyone should be treated equally.

Democracy is not simply a question of structures. It is a state of mind. It is an activity. And part of that activity is honesty.

Our country is the most generous, open, tolerant, and democratic in the world.

We Americans have the great gifts of freedom and democracy, but it has been our education system that has fulfilled the promise of democracy.

Intimidation, harassment and violence have no place in a democracy.

In the name of the rule of law, democracy and human rights, we cannot accept that the rights of individuals (Arab or Muslim) be trampled upon, or that populations are targeted and discriminated against in the name of the war against terrorism.

The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant.

Everyone deserves to have their voice heard.

Knowledge is the most democratic source of power.

The true victory is the victory for democracy and pluralism.

There is no slavery but ignorance.

We do believe that freedom, the right to choose, the right to vote, respect and justice is the fundamental right of all people. All people must obtain these rights.

I speak not for myself but for those without voice... those who have fought for their rights... their right to live in peace, their right to be treated with dignity, their right to equality of opportunity, their right to be educated.

I am an optimist, and I believe that people are inherently good and that if you give everyone a voice and freedom of expression, the truth and the good will outweigh the bad.