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Democracies take time.

Democracy is a process.

The tendency of democracies is, in all things, to mediocrity.

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

Of course democracy is good, but it is a process, not a prescription.

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

We know that dismantling old oppressive regimes is a great deal faster and easier than building new flourishing democracies. Chinggis Khaan once said, 'It was easier to conquer the world on horseback than to dismount and govern.' True validation of democracy lies less in what we tear down, and more in what we build.

But democracy isn't a state of perfection. It has to be improved, and that means constant vigilance.

One could always do more, faster and cleverer, but democracy has its own rhythm.