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Madeleine Albright

Sunday 7th of December 2025

Dead-in-the-heads say There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women. Madeleine Albright, commenting on young women supporting Bernie Sanders instead of Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential primares © 2016 Kwiple.com
Democracy An illiberal democracy is centered on the supposed needs of the community rather than the inalienable rights of the individual. It is democratic because it respects the will of the majority; illiberal because it disrespects the concerns of minorities. Madeleine Albright, Fascism: A Warming   © 2021 Kwiple.com
Democracy To a small “d” democrat, process matters more than ideology. The fairness of an election is more important than who wins it. There is not, on most questions of policy, a single democatic answer. Concerns arise only when leaders try to augment their power through means that could cause permanent damage to democratic institutions. Madeleine Albright © 2021 Kwiple.com
Fascism What makes a movement Fascist is not ideology but the willingness to do whatever is necessary — including the use of force and trampling on the rights of others — to achieve victory and command obedience. Madeleine Albright, Fascism: A Warning © 2021 Kwiple.com
Fascists There are two kinds of fascists: those who give orders and those who take them. A popular base gives fascism the legs it needs to march, the lungs it uses to proclaim, and the muscle it relies on to menace — but that's fascism from the neck down. To create tyranny out of the fears and  hopes of average people, money is required, and, so too, ambition and twisted ideas. It is the combination that kills. In the absence of wealthy backers, we likely would never had heard of Corporal Mussolini or Corporal Hitler. Madeleine Albright, Fascism: A Warning © 2021 Kwiple.com
Power Mussolini observed that in seeking to accumulate power, it is wise to do so in the manner of one plucking a chicken — feather by feather — so each squak is heard apart from every other and the whole process is kept as muted as possible. Madeleine Albright, Fascism: A Warming   © 2021 Kwiple.com
Punt returners say It's not a fraternity any more. Madeleine Albright responding to Henry Kissinger, a former Secretary of State, who called to congratulate her on becoming America's first female Secretary of State and said, “Welcome to the fraternity” © 2022 Kwiple.com
Rights Respect for the rights of others is a lofty principle; but envy is a primal urge. Madeleine Albright, Fascism: A Warming   © 2021 Kwiple.com
Selfie I am often asked whether I am an optimist or a pessimist. My reply is, “I am an optimist who worries a lot.” Madeleine Albright © 2021 Kwiple.com
 
State of the union Just as a herd of elephants leaves behind traces of its passage, so will the Trump team. Madeleine Albright, Financial Times, October 11, 2020 © 2020 Kwiple.com