"We do not seem to get very far by talking about democracy. We know that Germany is not one. She says so. We know that Russia is not one, though Stalin says she is one. We are not sure about some elements in the government of England and France. We are not altogether sure about this country. The reason is, of course, that we do not know what a democracy is or grasp the fundamental notions on which it rests. [...] Is democracy a good form of government? Is the United States a democracy? If we are to prepare to defend democracy we must be able to answer these questions. I repeat that our ability to answer them is much more important than the quantity or quality of aeroplanes, bombs, tanks, flame-throwers, and miscellaneous munitions that we can hurl at the enemy."
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Academics from the United StatesPhilosophers from the United StatesEducators from the United StatesPeople from New York CityYale University faculty
Original Language: English
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pp. 80-81
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Robert_Maynard_Hutchins
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Robert Maynard Hutchins
1929 – 1945
Robert Maynard Hutchins (17 January 1899 – 17 May 1977) was an educational philosopher, a president (1929–1945) of the University of Chicago and its chancellor (1945–1951).
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