Elbridge Gerry Quotes

Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely, and I found that out when I was Attorney General in Massachusetts.

There are no necessary evils in government. It's evils exist only in its abuses.

The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy.

Politics are usually the executive expression of human immaturity.

People know something has gone terribly wrong with our government and it has gotten so far off track. But people also know that there is nothing wrong in America that a good old-fashioned election can't fix.

Greece – the mother of all democracies

Our real battlefield today is Asia and our real battle is the one between democracy and communism.... We have to prove to the world and particularly to downtrodden areas of the world which are the natural prey to the principles of communist economics that democracy really brings about happier and better conditions for the people as a whole.

Let's face it: however old-fashioned and out of date and devaluated the word is, we like the way of living provided by democracy.

I had always hoped that this land might become a safe and agreeable asylum to the virtuous and persecuted part of mankind, to whatever nation they might belong.

If you read his … testimonies before Congress you will note that there is always something to be terribly, horribly and deeply worried about

Democracy takes time. Dictatorship is quicker, but too many people get shot.

Democracy is the form of government in which the free are rulers.

Our democracy has been marred by imperialism.

Democracy, once unleashed, is a pretty powerful force.

There is nothing left for Mankind but a Republic.

Democracy is not an easy form of government, because it is never final; it is a living, changing organism, with a continuous shifting and adjusting of balance between individual freedom and general order.

My political ideal is democracy.

Two great parties are forming in all nations. For one there is a right of government to be exercised by one or several persons over the mass of the people .... This is opposed by the new system which admits no right of government except that arising from the free consent of those who submit to it.

Democracy cannot flourish amid fear.

Democracy is hypocrisy without limitation.

In a democracy, the opposition is not only tolerated … but must be maintained as indispensable.

We don’t trust the U. S. government.

In a democracy, not everyone gets what they want.

Secrecy is the greatest peril to the future of this democracy and the world.

Democracy is about opposition.