Ted Lieu Quotes

Perhaps the fact that we have seen millions voting themselves into complete dependence on a tyrant has made our generation understand that to choose one's government is not necessarily to secure freedom.

The real strength of the democratic theory in opposition to the fascist or communist is that the fascist frankly states that certain people will tell other people what they shall do to be happy, and those other people have little or nothing to say about it. In theory the communists were to do everything in common, in practice a small group there also tells other people what they shall do to achieve their objectives. So far more nearly than any other form of government, the democratic form has allowed people to shape their own government

Beyond the barricades we long to see a Hong Kong free from tyranny and a puppet government.

If social stability goes pear-shaped, you have a choice between anarchy and dictatorship. Most people will opt for more security, even if they have to give up some personal freedom.

Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word, equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.

But there is a big difference in working for the West and working for a totalitarian state.

The people will save their government, if the government itself will allow them.

We're not a democracy.

The United States is not, nor has ever been, anything close to a fascist country.

Democracy is a destiny of humanity which cannot be averted. It can be delayed but not defeated.

A good constitution is infinitely better than the best despot.

Once people sense their own power, no authoritarian government can stand against the people who are determined to be free.

No one argues that we should have imposed a dictatorship in Afghanistan having liberated the country. Similarly, we weren't about to impose a dictatorship in Iraq having liberated the country.

The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than the democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism –-- ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power.

Where nationalism is the main issue, the demand for democracy always takes second place.

Democracy or Anti-Democracy

Only the history of free peoples is worth our attention; the history of men under a despotism is merely a collection of anecdotes.

The one reason we know that every totalitarian government must fail is that no totalitarian government is prepared to face the consequence of free universities.

A standing military force, with an overgrown Executive will not long be safe companions to liberty.

Only the checks put upon magistrates (government officials) make nations free; and only the want of such checks make them slaves. They are free, where their magistrates are confined within certain bounds set them by the people … And they are slaves, where the magistrates choose their own rules … and therefore most nations in the world are undone, and those nations only who bridle their governors do not wear chains

In oligarchies, militarism has leaped forward, while in those nations which have retained democracy militarism has waned.

I think that democratic communities have a natural taste for freedom: left to themselves, they will seek it, cherish it, and view any privation of it with regret. But for equality, their passion is ardent, insatiable, incessant, invincible: they call for equality in freedom; and if they cannot obtain that, they still call for equality in slavery.

Censorship reflects a society's lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime.

The United States supports the idea that every people should have the right to make a free choice as to the kind of government they want.

If you go and live with these Arabs, you will find that they cannot understand our ideas of freedom and human dignity. They have lived so long under dictatorships of one kind or another, how can we expect them to run successfully a free government?