--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As I understand I took most so-called…" description: "\"As I understand I took most so-called democratic states about 200 years on average to build their democracies. That is why, when we go to sleep under t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f7/aleksandr-lebed-61691_about_as-i-understand-i-took-most-so-called-de_760163.jpg" --- # As I understand I took most so-called democratic states… ![“As I understand I took most so-called democratic states about 200 years on average to build their democracies. That is why, when we go to sleep under totalitarian rule and wake up in a democracy, it makes me laugh.” quote by Aleksandr Lebed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f7/aleksandr-lebed-61691_about_as-i-understand-i-took-most-so-called-de_760163.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f7/aleksandr-lebed-61691_about_as-i-understand-i-took-most-so-called-de_760163.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f7/aleksandr-lebed-61691_about_as-i-understand-i-took-most-so-called-de_760163.jpg) > “As I understand I took most so-called democratic states about 200 years on average to build their democracies. That is why, when we go to sleep under totalitarian rule and wake up in a democracy, it makes me laugh.” [Aleksandr Lebed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-lebed/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracies often take centuries to develop; sudden transitions feel absurd. **In simple terms:** Democracy takes long to build. Key Takeaway Respect historical development. Themes politics history democracy Mood thoughtful critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy reform - education - civic engagement Key Concepts state formation social change Questions to Reflect On - What lessons do long‑term processes teach? - How can societies ease transitions? A Different Perspective Rapid change can cause instability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracies/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Laugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laugh/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Totalitarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totalitarian/) [Wake up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wake-up/) ## Related quotes > [Corporation: a miniature totalitarian state governed by a hierarchy of unelected officials who take a dim view of individualism, free speech, equality and eggheads.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bayan/corporation-a-miniature-totalitarian-state-governed-by-a-hierarchy-of/) [Rick Bayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bayan/) > [The essence of democracy is not that everyone makes and administers laws but that lawgivers and rulers should be dependent on the people's will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-essence-of-democracy-is-not-that-everyone-makes-and-administers/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Democracy makes many taxing demands on its practitioners, but suspension of the intelligence is not one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-halsey/democracy-makes-many-taxing-demands-on-its-practitioners-but/) [Margaret Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-halsey/) > [I think the advantage of democracy is that it makes us less dependent on a group of leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azim-premji/i-think-the-advantage-of-democracy-is-that-it-makes-us-less-dependent/) [Azim Premji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azim-premji/) > [A fanatical belief in democracy makes democratic institutions impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/a-fanatical-belief-in-democracy-makes-democratic-institutions/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [When you read about the end of the Soviet Union, it's always about the "death of socialism." 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