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Democracy passes into despotism.

Half a world away nations that once lived under oppression and tyranny are now budding democracies due in large part to America 's leadership and the sacrifices of our military.

Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people, in order to betray them.

Democracies are expense-averse and they think in terms of short-term, political interests rather than a long-term interest in stability.

Democracies, unlike dictatorships, are forgiving and generous, but they cannot survive unless they fight.

Democracies take time.

Democracies are poor breeding grounds for terrorism and war.

For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.