--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy is constructed like an edifice…" description: "\"Democracy is constructed like an edifice, freedom by freedom, right by right, until it reaches its snapping point.\" — Abdoulaye Wade" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/abdoulaye-wade-41086_democracy_democracy-is-constructed-like-an-edifice_1587297.png" --- # Democracy is constructed like an edifice, freedom by… ![“Democracy is constructed like an edifice, freedom by freedom, right by right, until it reaches its snapping point.” quote by Abdoulaye Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/abdoulaye-wade-41086_democracy_democracy-is-constructed-like-an-edifice_1587297.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/abdoulaye-wade-41086_democracy_democracy-is-constructed-like-an-edifice_1587297.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/abdoulaye-wade-41086_democracy_democracy-is-constructed-like-an-edifice_1587297.png) > “Democracy is constructed like an edifice, freedom by freedom, right by right, until it reaches its snapping point.” [Abdoulaye Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdoulaye-wade/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy builds layer by layer, adding freedoms and rights until it reaches a breaking point where it can collapse. **In simple terms:** Democracy adds freedoms until it may break. Key Takeaway Balance expansion with stability. Themes governance freedom structure Mood cautious analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy design - constitutional reform - civil activism Key Concepts political theory systems thinking Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards prevent democratic overload? - How can rights be added responsibly? A Different Perspective Too many freedoms at once can cause instability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ## Related quotes > [Every democracy is constructed day-to-day. And the electoral process reduces and minimalizes every single aspect of human complexity. We're putting it into pamphlets. We're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-garcia-bernal/every-democracy-is-constructed-day-to-day-and-the-electoral-process/) [Gael Garcia Bernal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-garcia-bernal/) > [“Liberty does not mean freedom to do anything;but freedom to do right thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaress/liberty-does-not-mean-freedom-to-do-anything-but-freedom-to-do-right/) AarEss > [What is freedom? Freedom is the right to choose: the right to create for oneself the alternatives of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/what-is-freedom-freedom-is-the-right-to-choose-the-right-to-create-3/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [What is freedom? Freedom is the right to choose: the right to create for oneself the alternatives of choice. Without the possibility of choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-iyengar/what-is-freedom-freedom-is-the-right-to-choose-the-right-to-create-2/) [Sheena Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-iyengar/) > [“What is freedom? Freedom is the right to choose: the right to create for oneself the alternatives of choice. Without the possibility of choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/what-is-freedom-freedom-is-the-right-to-choose-the-right-to-create/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [Knowledge is power. Power is freedom. Freedom is your right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/knowledge-is-power-power-is-freedom-freedom-is-your-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Oh, for heaven’s sake, Sirius, Dumbledore said no!” A bearlike black dog had appeared at Harry’s side as Harry clambered over the various trunks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oh-for-heaven-s-sake-sirius-dumbledore-said-no-a-bearlike-black-dog/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I gave myself a mental shake. Snapping out of a slump, that was what today was all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/i-gave-myself-a-mental-shake-snapping-out-of-a-slump-that-was-what/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“It's a finger snapping kind of day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-weise/it-s-a-finger-snapping-kind-of-day/) [Jamie Weise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-weise/) > [Sleep doesn't come easy when a broken twig conjures images of a hulking mental patient snapping the arms off children, over by the bin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-stone/sleep-doesn-t-come-easy-when-a-broken-twig-conjures-images-of-a/) [Craig Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-stone/) > [“I'm not snapping," I snapped.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-donnelly/i-m-not-snapping-i-snapped/) [Jennifer Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-donnelly/) > [There is hardly an American male of my generation who has not at one time or another tried to master the victory cry of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-hardly-an-american-male-of-my-generation-who-has-not-at-one/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [I hate when little ass fuck ass bitches being trynna jon that shit eerks my fucking nerves bitch you is a boy aand you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooh/i-hate-when-little-ass-fuck-ass-bitches-being-trynna-jon-that-shit/) [Pooh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooh/) > [Katniss, got that spile?" Finnick asks, snapping me back to reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/katniss-got-that-spile-finnick-asks-snapping-me-back-to-reality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The more horses you yoke the quicker everything will go - not the rending of the block from its foundation, which is impossible, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/the-more-horses-you-yoke-the-quicker-everything-will-go-not-the/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) ## More by Abdoulaye Wade > [A small child from a developing country has the advantage, from a very early age, of having access to toys which structure his mind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdoulaye-wade/a-small-child-from-a-developing-country-has-the-advantage-from-a-very/) [Abdoulaye Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdoulaye-wade/) > [The teacher that I was for decades, and that I still am in a certain way, wondered what was meant by the word education.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdoulaye-wade/the-teacher-that-i-was-for-decades-and-that-i-still-am-in-a-certain/) [Abdoulaye Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdoulaye-wade/) > [We therefore must keep the faith, despite the defeat of policies, because men pass with their policies whilst generations follow each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdoulaye-wade/we-therefore-must-keep-the-faith-despite-the-defeat-of-policies/) [Abdoulaye Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdoulaye-wade/) > [We wish to ensure that young Africans do not feel disorientated in the century in which they live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdoulaye-wade/we-wish-to-ensure-that-young-africans-do-not-feel-disorientated-in/) [Abdoulaye Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdoulaye-wade/) > [I am counting on the private sector, because it is crucial to Senegal's future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdoulaye-wade/i-am-counting-on-the-private-sector-because-it-is-crucial-to-senegal/) [Abdoulaye Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdoulaye-wade/) > [We will win the battle for Africa, which is in effect a battle for Humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdoulaye-wade/we-will-win-the-battle-for-africa-which-is-in-effect-a-battle-for/) [Abdoulaye Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdoulaye-wade/) > [I support the state, but not the state-run economy. 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But Africa has what Europe lacks: space, human resources,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdoulaye-wade/europe-is-not-one-of-the-major-powers-and-africa-even-less-so-of/) [Abdoulaye Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdoulaye-wade/) [Explore all 10 Abdoulaye Wade quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdoulaye-wade/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. 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But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 11,220 Democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Democracy is constructed like an edifice, freedom by freedom, right by right, until it reaches its snapping point.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abdoulaye Wade" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdoulaye-wade/democracy-is-constructed-like-an-edifice-freedom-by-freedom-right-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Democracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdoulaye-wade/democracy-is-constructed-like-an-edifice-freedom-by-freedom-right-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/abdoulaye-wade-41086_democracy_democracy-is-constructed-like-an-edifice_1587297.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/abdoulaye-wade-41086_democracy_democracy-is-constructed-like-an-edifice_1587297.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/abdoulaye-wade-41086_democracy_democracy-is-constructed-like-an-edifice_1587297.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Democracy is constructed like an edifice, freedom by freedom, right by right, until it reaches its snapping…” — Abdoulaye Wade", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Abdoulaye Wade", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdoulaye-wade/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Democracy is constructed like an edifice,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdoulaye-wade/democracy-is-constructed-like-an-edifice-freedom-by-freedom-right-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdoulaye-wade/democracy-is-constructed-like-an-edifice-freedom-by-freedom-right-by/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```