George Papandreou Quotes

Polls make leadership impossible.

Reason will conclude that where multitude is, there is the truth.

Only votes talk, everything else walks.

It's a democracy and if I am outvoted, I have to accept the majority decisions.

You've got to work things out in the cloakroom, and when you've got them worked out, you can debate a little before you vote.

There would always be a vote. There were always conflicts and arguments for years and years - that's why we're not together anymore. But there was always a vote. It was always two out of three.

As long as we're in a democracy, I have to give what I think the majority of people will enjoy.

You can not reduce issues to simple yes or no answers in a plebiscite.

I hate to see the entire issue decided on as narrow a base, but ... the size of the vote is more important than the arguments that are made.

If you vote no, you don't go. [The compromise passed.]

Democratic processes require time.

In government, consensus is more important than command; persuasion not only works better than arrogance, it's vital to the democratic process.

The majority voice should be controlling ... after a full, fair, and candid expression.

If we could, somehow, get a vote of the people of Tennessee and have it result properly, it would be worth more to us than a battle gained. How long before we can get such a vote?

I have been defeated for election often enough to know that the majority can be wrong.

Consensus is the essence of the legislative process.

We never go against a candidate for one or two votes. You can’t.

That’s one difficulty about a democracy. Nothing ever gets decided—even after its been decided.

In a democracy, if you don't get the votes, nothing else is possible, no matter how wonderful your dreams.

I'll let the people decide what they think is good taste.

The will of the majority will be respected.

A referendum is almost always a device by which governments get the voters to endorse what they wanted to do all along.

I accept the verdict of the people.

It is difficult to understand these people who democratically take part in elections and a referendum, but are then incapable of democratically accepting the will of the people.

Our history is that we can very aggressively, if necessary, and openly and democratically discuss our differences. We have a democratic history in which we come together and vote on these things.