“A democracy is ... accounted the meanest and worst of all forms of government.”

“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.”

“It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.”

“Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”

“The legislator should direct his attention above all to the education of youth; for the neglect of education does harm to the constitution. The citizen should be molded to suit the form of government under which he lives. For each government has a peculiar character which originally formed and which continues to preserve it. The character of democracy creates democracy, and the character of oligarchy creates oligarchy.”

“Democracy is worth dying for, because it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man.”