Guy Verhofstadt Quotes

In a peer network, no one is officially in charge. It doesn't have a command hierarchy. It doesn't have a boss. So, all the decisions are somehow made collectively. The control of the system is in the hands of everyone who is a part of it.

The era of roadside decisions, declarations have gone. My government's decisions will be guided by teamwork and consultations.

Most groups today aren't groups. In a true group all the members create the arrangements among themselves.

The only kind of coercion I recommend is mutual coercion, mutually agreed upon by the majority of the people affected.

That which touches all should be approved by all. Quod omnes tangit, debet ab omnibus approbari.

My favorite thing is to have collectives. Even when it comes to filmmaking as well, filmmaking and music and most art in general, I feel like everyone should have the same say. If you're in a collective, I feel like everyone should have the same say.

You'll find individuals agreeing on this, but when they get into collective societies and larger groups they find it difficult to achieve group agreement.

Everything is completely democratic in this band so far and that is the way that we would like to keep it.

When everyone agrees to a single solution and a single plan, there's nothing more efficient in the world than an efficient democracy.

If people think of public art as something the public decides, it's impossible to make anything of substance.

The people must know that from this day on, we want their opinions.

Democracy is the art of thinking independently together.

We have to make sure that when we make choices as a society, people understand the choices, agree with them, and are behind them. Otherwise, the system is going to fall apart.

Everything, everywhere, shall be decided by majority vote.

A democrat need not believe that the majority will always reach a wise decision. He should however believe in the necessity of accepting the decision of the majority, be it wise or unwise, until such a time that the majority reaches another decision.

So you [Romans] when you have got together in a body, let yourselves be guided by those whom singly you would never think of being advised by.

We shall determine all matters of state by public discussion, after assemblies have been convoked far and wide.

A single Executive may be responsible, but a numerous one cannot be responsible.

In matters which concern the common good, a general council chosen by all, to transact business which concern all, I conceive most suitable to rule and most safe for relief of the whole

... this idea that all wisdom is in the President, in me, that's baloney.... I don't believe this government was set up to be operated by anyone acting alone; no one has a monopoly on the truth and on the facts that are affecting this country.

Nobody, not even the head coach, would do anything to the football unilaterally, such as adjust the amount of pressure in a ball, without the quarterback not knowing. It would have to be the quarterback's idea.

We've always shared everything - writing credits, all the royalties - and there's no real leader because if there was one, we'd immediately depose them.

The will of the majority will be respected.

A good expedition doesn't need a leader at all. You are deciding day by day, discussing it in a democratic way.

Ours is a party with internal democracy. When we take a collective decision, it is not taken by a few people. It is taken only after serious analysis and wide consultations, in a true and democratic manner.