Mehmet Kamis Quotes

when greed and fear are linked to power, you have a dangerous mix. We see that in political life. In part of the world, the mix of greed and fear means that those who get power become reluctant to give it back. One of the many things I like and admire in our democracies are the norms that make our leaders hand over power when voters tell them to

When mankind first saw the necessity of government, it is probable that many had conceived the desire of ruling.

Rulers come and go; governments end and forms of government change; but sovereignty survives.

Power without principle is barren, but principle without power is futile. This is a party of government, and I will lead it as a party of government.

Vice presidents are supposed to be eternally loyal, which is why it is so difficult for some to figure out how to succeed their bosses.

Towering over Presidents and State Governors, over Congress and State Legislatures, over conventions and the vast machinery of party, public opinion stands out in the United States, as the great source of Power.

The peaceful transfer of authority is rare in history yet common in our country.

The Presidency is the repository of the people’s power.

American democracy is at its best in its talent for the transfer for power.

Few strong leaders are enthusiastic about their successors.

At the end of 4 years, you have a President who turns over all this enormous power without a single shot being fired.

While a vice-president of the United States may lack power, he never lacks; his rank is similar to that of a crown prince, though his succession is considerably less certain.

The people are difficult to govern: It is because those in authority are too fond of action [change].

In giving up my command once the job was done, I was setting an example all too rare in the Third World, where positions and titles are sometimes thought to be “owned” for decades, if not for life.

Democracy is a request from a War Board, in the middle of a morning in the middle of a war, wanting to know what democracy is.

It is extreme arrogance for one to think he is the only one who can govern his country and nobody else can do it. We're all human. After 10, 15 years you get tired, you run out of steam and ideas, you have to give a chance to somebody else. And whether you yourself are inclined to stay on, all those around you are pushing you to stay on for what they will gain. One has to have the strength of character to say the time has come to move on...unless you are a king.

Ours is a government elected by the people and it will not succumb to threats.

Forget about war or disease or poverty. The apocalypse is when America's elected president is no longer supervised by the unelected ruling establishment.

I like the idea of democracy. You have to have someone everyone distrusts.

A man is not a dictator when he is given a commission from the people and carries it out.

Democracy is the best school to learn soft power.

The fate of America cannot depend on any one man. The greatness of America is grounded in principles and not on any single personality.

The efficiency of a President at the beginning of his term depends on their capacity to get everything under control. That was my case. But once the institutions have been put in place, and the responsibilities delegated, the leader becomes a reference, a referee, a symbol and unifying figure for the nation. The issue is how and when to recognize the moment when staying in power becomes counterproductive.

We all have more at stake in the rules of the game than we do in the outcomes of the game. When that changes, that's when you begin to lose democracy.

Elections have consequences. And I fundamentally believe - this is my personal opinion, I know it's a slightly partisan thing to say - to really do what we think needs to be done, we're going to have to win some elections.