Pope John Paul II Quotes

Where men have general rights, and are all guided, as it were, by one mind, it is certain that every individual has the less right the more the rest collectively exceed him in power

In a democracy the poor will have more power than the rich, because there are more of them, and the will of the majority is supreme.

Democracy is a good client.

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?

If a democracy is to remain real and stable, the majority must be humane and farsighted enough to take care of minorities who have serious objections to the majorities point of view and who, because of lack of numbers, do not have the political strength to impose their own policy solutions through their own political power.

Democracy is very powerful but very fragile.

Democracy is not the ideally best form of government … unless it can be so organized that no class, not even the most numerous, shall be able to reduce all but itself to political insignificance, and direct the course of legislation and administration by its exclusive class interest.

The value of democracy stands or falls with the values which it embodies and promotes … values such as the dignity of every human person, respect for inviolable and inalienable rights, and the adoption of the “common good” as the end and criterion regulating political life.

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

If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in government to the utmost.

Our country is blessed with a democratic political system that is sensitive to the wishes of our people.

Power is action; the electoral principle is discussion. No political action is possible when discussion is permanently established.

Democracy consists of choosing your dictators, after they've told you what you think it is you want to hear.

For about ten years now, the struggle for democracy and the respect of human rights has been in the focus point - if not a commodity - of political groups aiming to rise to power.

I'm the one who initiated the democratic process.

Democracy means government by the uneducated, while aristocracy means government by the badly educated.

If democracy brings an undemocratic group to power, is that a victory for democracy?

You can not possibly have a broader basis for government than that which includes all the people, with all their rights in their hands, and with an equal power to maintain their rights.

Democracy is when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers.

Democracy is a process.

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

It should be remembered, as an axiom of eternal truth in politics, that whatever power in any government is independent, is absolute also; in theory only, at first, while the spirit of the people is up, but in practice, as fast as that relaxes. Independence can be trusted nowhere but with the people in mass.

The masses are our masters; and for every one who looks facts in the face his existence has become dependent on them, so that the thought of them must control his doings, his cares, and his duties.

Democracy is the fig leaf of elitism.

Shia leaders prefer to keep Iraq united, as long as they maintain their dominance over it, especially now that they have been portrayed as the majority who suffered injustice and oppression over the years. Hence, the atmospheres have been prepared and charged by the American agents to hand the reins of power to the “Shias” or to hold the lion’s share.