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For us democracy is a question of human dignity. And human dignity is political freedom.

The essence of democracy is its assurance that every human being should so respect himself and should be so respected in his own personality that he should have opportunity equal to that of every other human being to show what he was meant to become.

Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.

Democracy is worth dying for, because it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man.

In this possibly terminal phase of human existence, democracy and freedom are more than just ideals to be valued - they may be essential to survival.

Democracy rests upon two pillars: one, the principle that all men are equally entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; and the other, the conviction that such equal opportunity will most advance civilization.

Democracy is when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers.

Democracy matters because it reflects an idea of equality and an idea of liberty. It reflects an idea of dignity, the dignity of the individual, the idea that each individual should have an equal vote, an equal say, in the formation of their government.

Democracy is a device that insures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.