Compiled by Ranjana Oli

What went wrong in Nepal? Was democracy to blame?
“Democracy does not guarantee equality of conditions - it only guarantees equality of opportunity.” - Irving Kristol

On the myopic vision of egocentric political leaders and their followers, who effectively betrayed the popular uprising of 1990.
“They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security” - Benjamin Franklin

People of Nepal today
“In peace the sons bury their fathers, but in war the fathers bury their sons“ - Croesus

How the Maoists and the monarchy became powerful?
“When good people in any country cease their vigilance and struggle, then evil men prevail.” - Pearl S. Buck

The Maoists abduct school children and force them to join their militia; bomb passenger buses and kill innocent people.
“You can have power over people as long as you don’t take everything away from them. But when you’ve robbed a man of everything, he’s no longer in your power. “ - Aleksandra I. Solzhenitsyn

Why is there so much turmoil in the land of a thousand gods?
God is on everyone’s side … and in the last analysis, he is on the side with plenty of money and large armies. - Jean Anouilh

King Gyanendra dismissed the elected government to put an end to corruption
“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” – Lord Acton

What led King Gyanendra to think he could lead
“We thought, because we had power, we had wisdom.” - Stephen Vincent Benet

On the role of the international community in helping to restore peace and democracy in Nepal.
“Washing one’s hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral.” - Paulo Freire

On the futility of appealing to His Majesty to relinquish power to an elected government
“Power, however it has evolved, whatever its origins, will not be given up without a struggle.” - Shulamith Firestone

Should the democratic nations of the world be concerned?
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

The hope and wish of the people of Nepal.
“We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace.” - William Ewart Gladstone

The pledge for the citizens of Nepal
“Now my friends, I am opposed to the system of society in which we live today, not because I lack the natural equipment to do for myself but because I am not satisfied to make myself comfortable knowing that there are thousands of my fellow men who suffer for the barest necessities of life. We were taught under the old ethic that man’s business on this earth was to look out for himself. That was the ethic of the jungle; the ethic of the wild beast. Take care of yourself, no matter what may become of your fellow man. Thousands of years ago the question was asked; ‘’Am I my brother’s keeper?'’ That question has never yet been answered in a way that is satisfactory to civilized society.
Yes, I am my brother’s keeper. I am under a moral obligation to him that is inspired, not by any maudlin sentimentality but by the higher duty I owe myself. What would you think me if I were capable of seating myself at a table and gorging myself with food and saw about me the children of my fellow beings starving to death.”
1908 speech     Eugene V. Debs:

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