Kofi Annan Quotes

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

But, you know, I'm sorry, I think democracy requires participation. I mean, I don't want to proselytize but I do feel some sort of duty to participate in the process in some way other than just blindly getting behind a political party.

Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.

Our democracy is not something to be taken for granted. You have to fight for it. You have to commit yourself to working for it - for the long haul.

A citizen of America will cross the ocean to fight for democracy, but won't cross the street to vote in a national election.

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.

Susan B. Anthony must be turning in her grave if she knew that millions of women who have the right to vote are not exercising it. Why? Because they haven't got the interest or the time, or they have just given up hope.

I think if people value democracy, they had damn well better get out and exercise their right to vote while their vote still means something.

Abstention is a dereliction of citizenship: always cast a vote, if only to cast stones at the most hated.

America is a country which produces citizens who will cross the ocean to fight for democracy, but won't cross the street to vote.

I cast my vote against Donald Trump. I did it without joy or enthusiasm. I did it out of civic duty and love for our country.

I vote, but I don't feel that I'm achieving much when I do.

I voted, always vote. It's very important to me. My kids, I take them with me since they were little, so they realize it's a responsibility.

Some politician some years ago said that bad officials are elected by good voters who do not vote.

In a democracy, the individual enjoys not only the ultimate power but carries the ultimate responsibility.

I'm such a sap for democracy and politics that I get weepy when I see anybody voting.

If the institutions of parliamentary democracy are worth preserving, the duty to explain them to the people they are meant to serve becomes vitally important.

Democracy is not a good that people can enjoy without trouble. It is, on the contrary, a treasure that must be daily defended and conquered anew by strenuous effort.

The act of voting is one opportunity for us to remember that our whole way of life is predicated on the capacity of ordinary people to judge carefully and well.

I'm moved to think about the political state of our country right now. Most people who go out and vote have a very clear sense of what's right and wrong. And a lot of those people who don't aren't sure, so they don't go out and vote.

The Greens have every right to run, that's what democracy is, and they should argue their point by saying how they think people should vote, not by telling us to be silent.

I don't normally vote. I'm lazy and I never bought into the 'Every vote counts.'

Citizenship is a tough occupation which obliges the citizen to make his own informed opinion and stand by it.

If you don't vote, you don't count.

I believe that everyone should participate in democracy and enjoy doing it.