David Ignatius Quotes

Democracy just isn't working any more; without sanity at its heart, it is becoming a most unique and fiendish tyranny.

Peru needs an emperor.

China is a country ruled by men more than laws.

Iraq is better without Saddam Hussein than with Saddam Hussein. Without a doubt.

There's nothing to fear. I'm not a dictator.

Throughout my entire life, I have lived in the shadow of the dictatorship. It denied me safety and security.

History has proved that dictators can't last forever.

I would curse people who resort to coups against democracy, liberty, republic.

A man falling into dark waters seeks a momentary footing even on sliding stones.

It is extreme arrogance for one to think he...and it's usually he, is the only one who can govern his country and nobody else can do it.

When [Vladimir] Putin, a former lieutenant-colonel in the KGB, became Russia's president on December 31, 1999 - eight years after the failed coup attempt against (then Soviet leader Mikhail) Gorbachev, and eight years after the people had torn down the statue of Felix Dzerzhinsky, the hated founder of the KGB, in Moscow - it was admittedly a shock. Nevertheless, I decided to give Putin a chance. He seemed dynamic and capable of learning. But I had to bury my hopes after just a few months. He proved to be an autocrat - and, because the West let him do as he pleased, he became a dictator.

That realm is never long in quiet, where the ruler is a soldier.

A man's admiration of absolute government is proportionate to the contempt he feels for those around him.

Islam is not an excuse for thwarting democracy.

Ankh-Morpork had dallied with many forms of government and had ended up with that form of democracy known as One Man, One Vote. The Patrician was the Man; he had the Vote.

I looked into Mr. Putin's eyes, and I saw three letters, a "K," a "G," and a "B."

I am Congress; I'm president.

Democracy is a very bad form of government ... but all the others are so much worse.

We suffer most when the White House busts with ideas.

I mean, I'm not a, you know, a fraidy cat. I mean, I am truly concerned in this country that we are moving towards fascism.

The Administration of the United States is such dread I almost feel paralyzed.

The recent death of Gene McCarthy reminded me of a lesson I spent a long, long time unlearning, so now I have to re-learn it. It's about political courage and heroes, and when a country is desperate for leadership. There are times when regular politics will not do, and this is one of those times.

The fact of the matter is, we need to have a very clear message. We haven't had that from the current president. And you've seen the violence in his home city of Chicago. This is just another example.

When threatened, the first thing a democracy gives up is democracy.

Being mayor of New York was a crisis a week and an emergency every other day.