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"In a democracy everybody has a right to be represented, including the jerks."
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"Our nations (India and USA) may have been shaped by differing histories, cultures, and faiths. Yet, our belief in democracy for our nations and liberty for our countrymen is common. The idea that all citizens are created equal is a central pillar of the American constitution. Our founding fathers too shared the same belief and sought individual liberty for every citizen of India."
"Another tendency, which is extremely natural to democratic nations and extremely dangerous, is that which leads them to despise and undervalue the rights of private persons. The attachment which men feel to a right, and the respect which they display for it, is generally proportioned to its importance, or to the length of time during which they have enjoyed it. The rights of private persons amongst democratic nations are commonly of small importance, of recent growth, and extremely precarious; the consequence is that they are often sacrificed without regret, and almost always violated without remorse."
"Even voting for the right is doing nothing for it. It is only expressing to men feebly your desire that it should prevail. A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority. There is but little virtue in the action of masses of men."
"The problem of finding a collection of "wise men and leaving the government to them is thus an insoluble one. That is the ultimate reason for democracy."
"The amazing fact is that America is founded on a document. It's a work in progress. It can be tested by each generation."
Explore more quotes by Chris Patten
"I think that if politics is just about getting your backside on important seats, then it's a pretty worthless endeavor."
"I think that what most surprises anybody who goes into politics from even a modestly cerebral background is the vulgarity of much of the cut and thrust of politics."
"I suppose I've always carried what is regarded as a bit of unnecessary baggage in Britain. I've always carried the charge that I am an intellectual in politics."
"I don't think that capitalism should be unbridled, if by "unbridled" you mean unregulated."
"I believe in trying to get a balance between individual freedom on the one hand and social responsibility on the other."
"So, what I say to people is that politics has got to be about principle and values above all. Of course, there are times when you have to make accommodations."
"Green politics at its worst amounts to a sort of Zen fascism; less extreme, it denounces growth and seeks to stop the world so that we can all get off."
"But the ability to articulate what you are doing, to be clear about it, and to stick to it is, I think, the essence of political leadership."
"It is almost always wrong that the time isn't ripe to decide something. That is always said of difficult problems."
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