Alan Barth Quotes

Unanimity of opinion is characteristic of savages and civilization only advances as more and more people have the right to call wrong what the majority calls right..

It would be a tragedy for democracy if dissent goes away.

Bring it on. Dissent is central to any democracy.

We live in a democracy. We have this extraordinary opportunity to use our mind and say what we think, speak as we think. Sometimes what we say is objectionable to other people. But that is part of a free society.

A vocal minority beats a silent majority.

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.

It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority.... From the absolute will of an entire people there is no appeal, no redemption, no refuge but treason.

Pluralism of opinions is not dissent but democratic centralism understood in a new way.

So long as a minority conforms to the majority, it is not even a minority.

If you have an open society that what happens—people say things and they criticize you.

Passionate dissent from the will of the multitude should be respected, not derided.

Thought that is silenced is always rebellious. Majorities, of course, are often mistaken. This is why the silencing of minorities is necessarily dangerous. Criticism and dissent are the indispensable antidote to major delusions.

Democracy is not the law of the majority but the protection of the minority.

We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.

In a democracy, dissent is an act of faith.

One has the right to be wrong in a democracy.

A dissenting minority feels free only when it can impose its will on the majority: what it abominates most is the dissent of the majority.

I always say the strength of democracy lies in criticism. If there is no criticism, that means there is no democracy. And if you want to grow, you must invite criticism. And I want to grow; I want to invite criticism.

A society which is liberal democratic cannot have public policy determined upon the basis of who has got the loudest voice - or who can brings things to a halt.

And that is my definition of democracy, the right to be in a minority and not be suppressed.

Fascist movements kill off their critics, literally or metaphorically, while democratic movements value, invite and even welcome criticism.

A government of, by and for the people is obligated to conduct the nation's business in a manner that respects dissent.

There can be no democratic society where the interests of any minority … are not protected.

A free society is a place where it's safe to be unpopular.