Thomas Friedman Quotes

Elections are an enduring spectacle of free India, and have provided foreign journalists with the opportunity to remind the world that India remains the world's largest democracy.

Democracy has always been in crisis: democracy is all about practicing the art of bearable dissatisfaction. In democratic societies, people often complain about their leaders and their institutions. The gap between the ideal democracy and the existing one cannot be bridged.

You must see the persons who are in charge - persons you can punish or vote for.

At least the politicians are accountable to the voters.

The whole thing about elections in Liberia - it's not about the way you take care of people, it's not about the heart, it's about education, according to the perception of some people.

If you present good government, then elections look after themselves.

Democracy is not elections. Democracy includes elections.

Voting is the first duty of democracy.

Governments are like underwear. They start smelling pretty bad if you don't change them once in a while.

This election is not about me. It is about you.

If people don't like me, I insist they can vote for someone else. The only stupid thing we can do is to stay at home. I don't know a single election in the world that was changed by staying at home.

Without the persistence of voters in America getting up to every election, democracy will not flourish.

Voting is fundamental in our democracy. It has yielded enormous returns.

Democracy is not theater - it determines life and death!

Apparently, a democracy is a place where numerous elections are held at great cost without issues and with interchangeable candidates.

I see corruption as a mortal enemy for young democracies.

But democracy isn't a state of perfection. It has to be improved, and that means constant vigilance.

In Ethiopia, democracy is in its infancy and it must be nurtured along by its leaders.

Democracy is not about making speeches. It is about making committees work.

A functioning, robust democracy requires a healthy educated, participatory followership, and an educated, morally grounded leadership.

Democracy is more than a ballot box.

The government, whether state or central, is elected. That means we have a responsibility to elect the right kind of leaders.

So I think democracy, in the long-term, in our countries will survive if it comes to be associated with leadership, will not survive if democracy plus media brings to us more and more followship rather than leadership.

The only way to change is to vote. People are responsible.

Although elections are not perfect tools for democracy, they reinforce the relationship between the people and their leaders, empowering citizens to remove and replace their governments in a peaceful and orderly manner. The only basis for a peaceful society is providing people with the opportunity to express their opinions and their will, and elections are instrumental in doing so.