George C. Marshall Quotes

The way people in democracies think of the government as something different from themselves is a real handicap. And, of course, sometimes the government confirms their opinion.

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.

Democracy is far more complex than simply choosing the people who govern you.

The great postulate of our democracy is confidence in the common sense of the people and in their maturity of judgment, even on great issues—once they know the facts.

I cannot run the political machine. I have enough on my hands without that. It is the people's business.

Look, the people will elect the government they think best.

In a democracy, people tend to get the kind of government they deserve.

And in Canada we, you know, it costs us three or $400 million to have an election. You know, it's always been my position that we shouldn't complain about that; that's the price of admission for a living in a great democracy.

I sow; my successor reaps. This is the majesty of democracy.

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.

Democracy is still upon its trial. The civic genius of our people is its only bulwark.

The great thing about democracy is that it gives every voter a chance to do something stupid.

In a Democracy, look how many … many powerful Orators there are with the people.

In our form of democracy the expression of the popular will can be effected only through the instrumentality of political parties.

American democracy must be a failure because it places the supreme authority in the hands of the most ignorant part of society.

It's a very painful and difficult process of many mistakes when people receive the right to vote, to elect their leaders when they become the subject for mass media for political manipulation. In particular, in a country like Russia, because we had to go through this period very quickly, it has been, I would say, a crash course in democracy

Our democracy is only as good as the people who are willing to step up and run for office.

Democracy becomes a government of bullies tempered by editors

Roosevelt understood that democracy requires persuasion and consent

The government and people are inseparable under our system. We could not separate the government from the people if we would, and we would not if we could. This unity is the strength of our political structure.

We mean by "politics" the people's business -- the most important business there is.

Let the People Rule!

If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal.

I believe that people who do not vote in this country have no right to complain about the government that we are now living under. By the same token, if you don't really vote in television, you're never going to have your way. Write a letter to the president of the network.

They have not always elected the best leaders, particularly after a long period in which they have not used this facility of free election. You tend to lose the habit.