Communism is based on the belief that man is so weak and inadequate that he is unable to govern himself, and therefore requires the rule of strong masters. Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with reason and justice.

Harry Truman

Second Inaugural Address of Harry Truman

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More information about this quote

Topic

Cold War Communism vs. democracy Communism Democracy Self-government Political theory

Speaker

Harry Truman

Source

Second Inaugural Address of Harry Truman Presidential inaugural address

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

English

Time

1949 1940s 20th century

Occupation

American President National leader Politician

From

United States

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Truman, Harry S. "Second Inaugural Address." 20 Jan. 1949, East Portico, US Capitol Building, Washington, DC, USA.

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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Harry Truman

Sixteen hours ago an American airplane dropped one bomb on Hiroshima... The force from which the sun draws its power has been loosed against those who brought war to the Far East.

Harry Truman

More information about this quote
Topic
Nuclear weapons World War II
Speaker
Harry Truman
Medium
Speech
Genre
Political speech
Language
English
Time
1945 1940s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Truman, Harry S. First announcement of the atomic bomb. 6 Aug. 1945, The White House, Washington, DC, USA.

Another quote from the 1940s

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

Henry S. Haskins

More information about this quote
Topic
Inner strength

Author

Henry S. Haskins
Language
English
Time
1940 1940s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Haskins, Henry S [published anonymously]. "Metapsychics." Meditations in Wall Street. William Morrow & Company, 1940.

Another quote about Democracy

Democracy passes into despotism.

Socrates

Quoted in Republic, by Plato

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More information about this quote
Topic
Political theory Democracy Tyranny Politics
Speaker
Socrates

Author

Plato
Source
Republic
Medium
Philosophical dialogue Dialogue
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
Greek
Time
375 BC 370s BC 4th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Πολιτεία [Republic], written by Plato. c. 375 BCE.

Current Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Republic, written by Plato, translated by Desmond Lee. Penguin Classics, 2007.

Another quote from the following genre Political speech

The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime, and the punishment of his guilt.

John Philpot Curran

More information about this quote
Topic
Price of freedom Freedom
Speaker
John Philpot Curran
Medium
Speech
Genre
Political speech
Language
English
Time
1816 1810s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Curran, John Philpot. Speech on the right of election of the Lord Mayor of Dublin. 10 July 1790, Dublin, Ireland.