Is it possible that we ‘hate’ politics because we have…
““Is it possible that we ‘hate’ politics because we have forgotten its specific and limited nature, its overwhelming value, and also its innate fragility? Could it be that our expectations are so high that politics appears almost destined to disappoint? Democratic politics cannot make ‘every sad heart glad’, as Crick argued, nor did it ever promise to do so. But not always getting what you want, an awareness that public governance is often slow and bureaucratic, a frustration that some decisions are hard to understand or have to be made in secret, disbelief and anger at the selfinterested behaviour of a small number of politicians, and an acceptance that some people will always take out more from the system than they put in—these are the prices you pay for living in a democracy.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Democracy’s flaws—slow, opaque, and self‑interested—are inevitable costs of collective governance.
In simple terms: Democracy’s imperfections are the price of shared rule.
Key Takeaway
Accept and improve democratic imperfections.
Themes
Politics
Democracy
Critique
Mood
essay
political
Type
Corruption:1
Democracy:1
Hate politics:0
Nature:0
Participation:0
Politics:1
State:0
Democratic Politics:1
Politics Forgotten:0
Disappoint Democratic:1
When to use this quote
- May be overly pessimistic.
Key Concepts
Governance
Public policy
Citizen engagement
Questions to Reflect On
- Critical
- Reflective
A Different Perspective
How can citizens mitigate democratic inefficiencies?;What reforms balance speed and transparency?