现代性是一个未完成的计划。

只有那些能够在双向考虑所有相关方利益意义上实现普遍化的规则和交往前提，才能期待获得同意。

相互理解作为目的(telos)内在于人类语言之中。

在世俗国家中，有信仰的公民和无信仰的公民都可以相互期待，在政治公共领域中各方将学会采取对方的视角。

压制意见表达的特殊危害在于：它是在剥夺全人类——从反对该意见的人那里夺走的，比从持有它的人那里夺走的还要多。

-- 约翰·斯图尔特·密尔

The unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance.

-- 卡尔·波普尔

Democracy has to be born anew every generation, and education is its midwife.

-- 约翰·杜威

I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.

-- 纳尔逊·曼德拉

Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

-- 亞伯拉罕·林肯

Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

-- 約翰·亞當斯