If I rescued a child from drowning, the press would no doubt headline the story: 'Benn grabs child Tony Benn More Quotes by Tony Benn More Quotes From Tony Benn I do not share the general view that market forces are the basis for political liberty. Every time I see a homeless person living in a cardboard box in London, I see that person as a victim of market forces. Everytime I see a pensioner who cannot manage, I know that he is a victim of market forces Tony Benn libertypoliticalviews If democracy is destroyed in Britain, it will be not the communists, Trotskyists or subversives but this House which threw it away. The rights that are entrusted to us are not for us to give away. Even if I agree with everything that is proposed, I cannot hand away powers lent to me for five years by the people of Chesterfield. I just could not do it. It would be theft of public rights. Tony Benn rightshandsyears We are paying a heavy political price for 20 years in which, as a party, we have played down our criticism of capitalism and soft-peddled our advocacy of socialism Tony Benn politicalpartyyears It's the same each time with progress. First they ignore you, then they say you're mad, then dangerous, then there's a pause and then you can't find anyone who disagrees with you. Tony Benn madinnovationcreativity I met somebody once who said, "I'm a lapsed-atheist" by what he meant was, "I don't believe in God but the older I get the more I realise there is a spirituality in everybody that has to be cherished and nourished." That made a lot of sense to me. Tony Benn believe-in-godspiritualitybelieve Well, it all began with Democracy. Before we had the vote all the power was in the hands of rich people. If you had money you could get health care, education, look after yourself when you were old, and what democracy did was to give the poor the vote and it moved power from the marketplace to the polling station, from the wallet...to the ballot. Tony Benn givinghandspeople I try to operate on two unconnected levels. One on the practical level of action in which I am extremely cautious and conservative. The second is the realm of ideas where I try to be very free Tony Benn tryingtwoideas I think democracy is the most revolutionary thing in the world, because if you have power you use it to meet the needs of you and your community. Tony Benn democracycommunitythinking The First World War created the Second World War because that was a war between three grandsons of Queen Victoria: The King of England, the Kaiser and the Tsar married Queen Victoria's granddaughter. And that triggered Communism in Russia and Fascism in Germany and led to the Second World War. Tony Benn granddaughterwarworld If one meets a powerful person - Adolf Hitler, Joe Stalin or Bill Gates - ask them five questions: 'What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interests do you exercise it? To whom are you accountable? And how can we get rid of you?' If you cannot get rid of the people who govern you, you do not live in a democratic system. Tony Benn powerfulexercisepeople People would do well to ask themselves how many of their ambitions and aspirations derive from the type of economic system they inhabit and the insecurity and exhaustion it creates, and question the sense and purpose of a society where control of a large portion of life is abdicated under contract in the labour market, and where immense creativity and potential is stifled by the need to do difficult and repetitive tasks in order to earn a wage. Tony Benn creativityambitionorder There is no moral difference between a stealth bomber and a suicide bomber. Both kill innocent people for political reasons. Tony Benn differencessuicidewar Remember, imperialism is always presented as humanitarian: the white man's burden, the cross going round the world, the poor benighted natives, the sun never sets. . . So you have to be very careful about humanitarianism. Tony Benn imperialismrememberworld Change from below, the formulation of demands from the populace to end unacceptable injustice, supported by direct action, has played a far larger part in shaping British democracy than most constitutional lawyers, political commentators, historians or statesmen have ever cared to admit. Direct action in a democratic society is fundamentally an educational exercise. Tony Benn direct-actioneducationalexercise Encouragement is the most important thing in the world for young people, rather than league tables, which demoralise everyone. Tony Benn encouragementleaguepeople Hope is the fuel of progress and fear is the prison in which you put yourself. Tony Benn progressfuelpolitics The nature of the economic system should be a matter for public choice, and free market capitalism should not be accepted without any discussion of the rich variety of alternatives ... Unlike civil laws, economic laws are imposed on people with all the authority of immutable laws of nature. But the economy is created by people, supported by government intervention, regulation, statute and subsidy, and implemented in such a way that it gives substantial wealth and power to a privileged few, while the majority face a life of relentless work, stress and periodic financial insecurity. Tony Benn government-interventionstressacceptance The New York Times said, "There are two superpowers in the world: the United States and the world peace movement." Tony Benn superpowerworld Parliamentary democracy is, in truth, little more than a means of securing a periodical change in the management team, which is then allowed to preside over a system that remains in essence intact. If the British people were ever to ask themselves what power they truly enjoyed under our political system they would be amazed to discover how little it is Tony Benn teamessencemean I believe the more difficult the circumstances, the more people will be inclined to trust those in charge at the moment. Tony Benn momentsbelievepeople
