Ashraf Ghani Quotes

Just because a group does not take its decisions by voting does not mean they have no understanding of the essence of democracy.

Democratic government consists of listening, deciding, persuading.

Only votes talk, everything else walks.

It's a democracy and if I am outvoted, I have to accept the majority decisions.

Our history is that we can very aggressively, if necessary, and openly and democratically discuss our differences. We have a democratic history in which we come together and vote on these things.

Voting is the foundational act that breathes life into the principle of the consent of the governed.

Democracy is about voting and it's about a majority vote. And it's time that we started exercising the Democratic process.

If in the first group of people who have gathered, unanimity is not achieved, new people shall be added, after which a group equal in number to the Greatest Name or fewer or greater shall be chosen from their midst by lots; whereupon the consultation shall be renewed; whatever is the result shall be obeyed. If the second time opinions again differ, repeat the process a third time. This time obey the majority vote.

In a democracy, if the people don’t vote, the policies are made by others….The major decisions of our society are going to be made by our elected officials, like it or not.

Let the people decide whom to vote for, who has more authority. And only people, only our citizens, are able to place the final emphasis, voting for this or that person or political force, or rejecting it. That's democracy.

Senators, like everyone else, want to feel a part of this decision-making process. They want to feel included.

Democracy is about non-arbitrary decisions. Democracy is about spreading decisions; it is not about destroying processes.

It's not the voting that's democracy; it's the counting.

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

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

It is assumed in many parts of the world that democracy is a group of people facing a certain problem, who come together to solve it in a way where everyone has an equal say.

A democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it.

As long as we're in a democracy, I have to give what I think the majority of people will enjoy.

If we had a consensus we wouldn't have to go to a referendum.

Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.

I don't envisage collectivism. There is no such animal, it is always individualism, sometimes the rest vote and sometimes they do not, and if they do they do and if they do not they do not.

Democracy means government by discussion, but it is only effective if you can stop people talking.

A government of, by and for the people is obligated to conduct the nation's business in a manner that respects dissent.

Everything, everywhere, shall be decided by majority vote.

Although elections are not perfect tools for democracy, they reinforce the relationship between the people and their leaders, empowering citizens to remove and replace their governments in a peaceful and orderly manner. The only basis for a peaceful society is providing people with the opportunity to express their opinions and their will, and elections are instrumental in doing so.