THE STRENGTHS OF DEMOCRACY

'One of the great things about democracy is that the way is always open for a defeated party to make its case again.' 

John G Stackhouse Jr., Why You're Here, p.243. 

LESSONS FROM THE DODO

'"Free as a bird", we say, and envy the winged creatures fore their power on unrestricted movement in all the three dimensions. But, alas, we forget the dodo. Any bird that has learned how to grub up a good living without being compelled to use its wings will soon renounce the privilege of flight and remain forever grounded. Something analogous is true of human beings. If the bread is supplied regularly and copiously three times a day, many of them will be perfectly content to live by bread alone - or at least by bread and circuses alone.' 

Aldous Huxley, Brave New World Revisited, p.152. 

DEMOCRACY

'I believe in political equality. But there are two opposite reasons for being a democrat. You may think all men so good that they deserve a share in the government of the commonwealth, and so wise that the commonwealth needs their advice. That is, in my opinion, the false, romantic doctrine of democracy. On the other hand, you may believe fallen men to be so wicked that not one of them can be trusted with any irresponsible power over his fellows.

That I believe to be the true ground of democracy.'

CS Lewis, 'Membership' in The CS Lewis Essay Collection: Faith, Christianity and the Church, p.336.

DEMOCRACY

'Man's capacity for justice make democracy possible; man's inclination toward injustice makes democracy necessary.'

Reinhold Niebuhr in Arthur Schlesinger Jr., Journals 1952-2000, p.337.