The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy indifference and undernourishment.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a time to honor the greatest champion of racial equality who taught a nation - through compassion and courage - about democracy nonviolence and racial justice.

I think the Iraqi people have shown extraordinary patience and courage in the last few months. They have really put a political system on the way to success to a real democracy here.

Through the inspiration of Vaclav's words the courage of his dissidence and the integrity of his leadership Czechoslovakia successfully transitioned from an authoritarian state to a free democracy at the heart of Europe.

You know who is against democracy in the Middle East? The husbands. They got used to their way of life. Now the traditional way of life must change. Everybody must change. If you don't give equal rights to women you can't progress.

We think that democracy can change a lot of things but we're being fooled because democracy is not the election. We've been taught that democracy is having elections. And it isn't. Elections are the most horrendous aspect of democracy. It's the most mundane trivial disappointing dirty aspect.

The democracy process provides for political and social change without violence.

I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy - but that could change.

The spirit of democracy is not a mechanical thing to be adjusted by abolition of forms. It requires change of heart.

Dishonesty in government is the business of every citizen. It is not enough to do your own job. There's no particular virtue in that. Democracy isn't a gift. It's a responsibility.