"What really troubles me is that democracy is getting a bad name because it is identified with imposition and occupation. I'm for democracy, but imposing democracy is an oxymoron. People have to choose democracy, and it has to come up from below."

Madeleine Albright Politics See all quotes by Madeleine Albright →

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More by Madeleine Albright

“My deepest regret from my years in public service is the failure of the United States and the international community to act sooner to halt these crimes.”

“The victor of the war in Iraq is Iran.”

“I think this is a very hard choice, but the price — we think the price is worth it.”

“There is a significant moral difference between a person who commits a violent crime and a person who tries to cross a border illegally in order to put food on the family table. Such migrants may violate our laws against illicit entry, but if that's all they do then they are trespassers, not criminals. They deserve to have their dignity respected.”

“I'm not a person who thinks the world would be entirely different if it was run by women. If you think that, you've forgotten what high school was like.”

“I never should have made it. It was stupid.”

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