Zbigniew Brzezinski Quotes

Democracy is an interesting, even laudable, notion and there is no question but that when compared to Communism, which is too dull, or Fascism, which is too exciting, it emerges as the most palatable form of government.

A democracy is a compromise by its nature. It's not a dictatorship.

I am a firm believer in the importance of democracy, not only as the ultimate goal, but also as an essential part of the process.

We are in a democracy, and I think for all issues, whatever matters that the opposition may have apprehension on, there is a forum, and it is called Parliament.

Events in America show the extent to which democracy there is fuelled by populism - Barack Obama's victory is a manifestation not of Washington's need for change, but of America's. That is not how democracy works in England.

The problem is there is no such thing as a viable democracy made up of experts, zealots, politicians and spectators.

Democracy is a process.

The word democracy comes from the Greek and means, literally, government by the people.

Democracy is only tolerable because no other system is.

Polls make leadership impossible.

America is essentially and radically a democracy, not in name merely but in deed.

Democracy doesn't mean electing a dictator every five years.

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

The principle problem is the belief that democracy is the talisman for all the world’s problems.

Sure the people are stupid: the human race is stupid. Sure Congress is an inefficient instrument of government. But the people are not stupid enough to abandon representative government for any other kind, including government by the guy who knows.

Democracy, in a word, is meant to be an aristocracy which has broadened into a universal aristocracy.

Democracy can be noisy and messy. But it works.

Liberal democracies have their own means of holding leaders accountable. They are called elections.

What is the difference between democracy and democratic socialism? The same as between a chair and an electric chair.

People mistake majoritarianism for democracy.

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

A republic and a democracy are pretty much identical, pretty much on every level.

I actually don't believe in governance by referendum. I believe that we have a democracy, that we elect people to make decisions.

We are a democracy, and we get the leaders we deserve because we elect them.

We think about democracy, and that's the word that Americans love to use, 'democracy,' and that's how we characterize our system. But if democracy just means going to vote, it's pretty meaningless. Russia has democracy in that sense. Most authoritarian regimes have democracy in that sense.