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“A society's progress should be measured by how safely disagreement can exist within it. When dissent is treated as disruption, authority grows insecure and brittle. Confidence in governance is reflected not in silence, but in dialogue. Democratic maturity welcomes challenge as a corrective force.”

— Shivanshu K. Srivastava

Last update Sept. 26, 2026. History

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“The people of India may be poor, many of them may be illiterate, but few societies in the world can match the Indian people in the confidence and maturity with which they exercise their democratic rights.”

R. Venkataraman (1910–2009) seventh Vice-President of India and the 8th President of India

Source: Commissions and Omissions by Indian Presidents and Their Conflicts with the Prime Ministers Under the Constitution: 1977-2001, P.184.

“Disagreement is not necessarily a reason to head for Splitsville. In fact, a relationship without disagreement is probably too brittle to last. Some of the best human bonds are forged in the fire of disagreement.”

Jerry Spinelli (1941) American children's writer

Source: Today I Will: A Year of Quotes, Notes, and Promises to Myself

“Revolutions generally reflect the irresistible impulse for necessary changes which have been held back by official policies or retarded by social apathy. The institutions and practices of democracy provide ways and means by which such changes could be effected without recourse to violence. But change is anathema to authoritarianism, which will tolerate no deviation from rigid policies. Democracy acknowledges the right to differ as well as the duty to settle differences peacefully. Authoritarian governments see criticism of their actions and doctrines as a challenge to combat. Opposition is equated with 'confrontation', which is interpreted as violent conflict. Regimented minds cannot grasp the concept of confrontation as an open exchange of major differences with a view to settlement through genuine dialogue. The insecurity of power based on coercion translates into a need to crush all dissent. Within the framework of liberal democracy, protest and dissent can exist in healthy counterpart with orthodoxy and conservatism, contained by a general recognition of the need to balance respect for individual rights with respect for law and order.”

Aung San Suu Kyi (1945) State Counsellor of Myanmar and Leader of the National League for Democracy

In Quest of Democracy (1991)

“Governments never lead; they follow progress. When the prison, stake or scaffold can no longer silence the voice of the protesting minority, progress moves on a step, but not until then.”

Lucy Parsons (1853–1942) American communist anarchist labor organizer

The Principles of Anarchism

“how can a democratic discourse exist in a corporate owned informational system? Who, for example, possesses freedom of speech in such a society?”

Herbert Schiller (1919–2000) American media critic

Source: Living In The Number One Country (2000), Chapter Five, Corporatizing Communication And Culture, p. 138

“Governments exist on confidence. Not on liberty. Not on righteousness. Not on force. They exist because people believe that they do. Because they don’t ask questions.”

Daniel Abraham (1969) speculative fiction writer from the United States

Source: The Expanse, Tiamat's Wrath (2019), Chapter 34 (p. 357)

“America is a great force for freedom and prosperity. Yet our greatness is not measured in power or luxuries, but by who we are and how we treat one another. So we strive to be a compassionate, decent, hopeful society.”

George W. Bush (1946) 43rd President of the United States

2000s, 2006, State of the Union (January 2006)

“If the end be clearly comprehended within any of the specified powers, and if the measure have an obvious relation to that end, and is not forbidden by any particular provision of the Constitution, it may safely be deemed to come within the compass of the national authority.”

Alexander Hamilton (1757–1804) Founding Father of the United States

Opinion on the Constitutionality of the Bank (23 February 1791)

“We should not be forced to give up our children's U. S. citizenship so that we can get a fuller measure of self-government.”

Aníbal Acevedo Vilá (1962) American politician

U. S. Senate, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings on sovereignty under S. 472 (June 23, 1998)

“This is modern, progressive politics reflecting our society.”

Dawn Butler (1969) British politician

Maiden speech on 24 May 2005

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