Democratic Society Quotes

“In a society where the majority choose charisma over character, democracy does more harm than good to the actual progress of that society”
― Abhijit Naskar

“A policy paralysis can warrant a permanent illness to a functioning state.”
― Qamar Rafiq

“In democratic societies, we do not normally resort to physical violence to muffle those with ideas, but we do use other forms of violence: prejudice, censorship, and slander.”
― Azar Nafisi, Read Dangerously: The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times

“The media is the fourth estate, the watchdog, the public voice that informs, educates, and entertains the citizens, and holds the government accountable to its actions and policies.”
― Kumbirai Thierry Nhamo, Why the Zimbabwean Government Is Broken: The Inherent Flaws of Democracy

“We treat politics as a sport, political parties as the teams we root for, and political leaders as our favorite sports stars.

But we forget that politics is not an entertainment sport. In sports, rivalry between fans of opposing teams is "Them vs Us", but in politics such rivalry becomes "Us vs Us". Political outcomes have far greater effect on our life than sports outcomes.

In a democracy, "we, the people" are supposed to be the kings, not the pawns. We are the examiners and watchdogs of the political system, not the fans.

We should step back from our blind loyalty to a party, and start taking an educated stand. Instead of forming our opinions based on hearsay and emotions, we should form our opinions based on hard facts.

The time has come to stop being loyal to any political party, and start being loyal to our country and its betterment.”
― Shon Mehta

“I'm Above The Law (The Sonnet)

Yes, I am above the law,
So is every single world builder.
It's only the apes without brain who,
Are tamed by the medieval lawmaker.
If you are to be a civilized being,
It is your duty to rise above the law.
If you can't tell right from wrong,
It is common sense you lack, not law.
It is nothing but a juvenile democracy,
That is founded on spineless law-abidance.
Civilized democracy instills accountability,
What it doesn't demand is boneheaded obedience.
You have a heart, brain and spine, why not use them!
Stand up o citizen justice, and keep the law as servant.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Himalayan Sonneteer: 100 Sonnets of Unsubmission

“Himalayan Sonneteer Sonnet 100
(Naskar Sonnet 1000)

It's the little everyday acts of justice,
That bring most change in society.
It's the little everyday acts of justice,
That actually eliminate inhumanity.
One big revolution in five years,
Brings no lasting change.
But one small act of uncompromise everyday,
Makes the whole world gain conscience.
Hence, reformation of a nation isn't measured,
By how many big revolutions it has to face.
Reformation of a nation is predicated on,
How many citizens it has who refuse to bend.
So I say - break the chains, take off the blinkers.
The whole world awaits, for it needs to be tinkered.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Himalayan Sonneteer: 100 Sonnets of Unsubmission

“Reformation of a nation isn't measured by how many big revolutions it has to face. Reformation of a nation is predicated on how many citizens it has who refuse to bend.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Himalayan Sonneteer: 100 Sonnets of Unsubmission

“What's the point in having a government that cannot make food, housing, education and healthcare free to every citizen! Every citizen must ask this question - every statesperson must ask this question - every head of state must ask this question. This oughta be the prime directive of the government handbook.”
― Abhijit Naskar, The Centurion Sermon: Mental Por El Mundo

“A world that justifies arms race as necessary evil, rightfully deserves all the evil of war it is racked with.”
― Abhijit Naskar, The Centurion Sermon: Mental Por El Mundo

“I often struggle to breathe but resist thinking of the lost faith in the judicial system, incompetent politicians, and military dictators who worked hard to wheel me off into the intensive care unit (ICU) by placing my future on a ventilator. Now, my life support is a drip feed of foreign loans and emergency cash injections from lenders and friends. Have I told you my name? My name is Pakistan.”
― Qamar Rafiq

“Enough contemplation of the government’s misdeeds: today, I thought to break my silence about how rogue prime ministers, incompetent cabinet ministers, corrupt bureaucrats, dishonest judges, and unkind military dictators bring me to an era of total breakdown.”
― Qamar Rafiq

“Two big questions will prey on the political discourse for many generations to come: how career liar politicians, the perpetrators of the present situation can change the fate of Pakistan, and why the government–that they all led–failed and failed again to change the society in the last seventy years?”
― Qamar Rafiq

“What’s stressing me out is endemic government corruption, depleted foreign reserves and crippling debt have fractured Pakistan’s economy beyond repair. Nevertheless, Pakistan’s economic situation is a direct reflection of misplaced priorities and policy paralysis for decades.”
― Qamar Rafiq

“The growing body of evidence suggests most of the recent political projects carry within them the seeds of the destruction of public trust. The damage is everywhere.”
― Qamar Rafiq

“To properly compare democracies to dictatorships we need to consider the real reason democracies were created, that is, to divide the people. Politics only exists in the minds of the people. In reality, all political parties, apart from a few insignificant independents are controlled by the same rich and powerful entities. Therefore, there is essentially no difference between a democracy or a dictatorship. But, I can tell you one thing the Chinese do not waste their time doing, is arguing with their neighbours about which political party they support.”
― Jack Freestone

“Governments don't exist to do what's right, governments exist to do whatever increases their chances to stay in power for another term - not this government or that government, but every government.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Yaralardan Yangın Doğar: Explorers of Night are Emperors of Dawn

“Weak justice system can overdose human rights crisis.”
― Qamar Rafiq

“Judiciary, politicians and establishment have worked hard to wheel off my spirit into the intensive care unit by placing me future on ventilator. My name is Pakistan.”
― Qamar Rafiq

“Sonnet 1306

Doctors are not official representatives,
Yet they do their job quite efficiently.
Teachers are not official representatives,
Yet they do their job quite respectfully.

Public transport drivers ain't representatives,
Yet they carry their duties quite diligently.
Factory workers ain't official representatives,
Yet they fulfill their tasks rather honorably.

All the professions that actually require
some tangible skillsets and expertise,
don't rely on the jungle whim of democracy.
Yet the most glorified profession of all,
has no performance standards compulsory.

If this is your idea of a civilized democracy,
No wonder you still crave peace in nuclear weapons!
Only monkeys could confuse homicide with defense,
It takes a human to plant peace through illumination.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Visvavatan: 100 Demilitarization Sonnets

“All the professions that actually require some tangible skillsets and expertise, don't rely on the jungle whim of democracy. Yet the most glorified profession of all, has no performance standards compulsory.”
― Abhijit Naskar, Visvavatan: 100 Demilitarization Sonnets

“Zimbabwe needs a new democratic narrative, culture, and vision to reflect the aspirations, values, and needs of the people.”
― Kumbirai Thierry Nhamo, Why the Zimbabwean Government Is Broken: The Inherent Flaws of Democracy

“Impunity breeds corruption, abuse, and lawlessness, and undermines the rule of law, the respect for human rights, and the trust in public institutions.”
― Kumbirai Thierry Nhamo, Why the Zimbabwean Government Is Broken: The Inherent Flaws of Democracy

“A government's first duty to its citizens, is to provide a fully functional welfare state. Welfare state ought to be the first refuge, not the last resort. A thriving welfare state produces ambitious citizens.”
― Abhijit Naskar, The Humanitarian Dictator

“Democracy doesn’t give everything, but it grants the freedom to be yourself and pursue what you need.”
― Bhuwan Thapaliya

“Revolution a day keeps corruption away.”
― Abhijit Naskar, The God Sonnets: Naskar Art of Theology

“True democracy speaks; it does not shout. It listens to reason, not the roar of populism.”
― Bhuwan Thapaliya

“Democracy, once the voice of the people, has become a demo of craziness, not freedom. It echoes with noise, not wisdom — a chorus of chaos drowning out reason.”
― Bhuwan Thapaliya

“Democracy is a government of the devil, by his demons, and for his gatekeepers.”
― Eduvie Donald

“Believing in people, the radical has the job of organizing people so that they will have the power and opportunity to best meet each unforeseeable future crisis as they move ahead to realize those values of equality, justice, freedom, the preciousness of human life, and all those rights and values propounded by Judeo-Christianity and democratic tradition. Democracy is not an end but the best means toward achieving these values. These values are not even debatable in a free society; they are accepted, they are the reasons for the democratic society.”
― Saul D. Alinsky, Reveille for Radicals