--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There can be no democracy without truth…" description: "\"There can be no democracy without truth. There can be no truth without controversy, there can be no change without freedom. Without freedom there can b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/andrew-young-5409_change_there-can-be-no-democracy-without-truth_1496331.png" --- # There can be no democracy without truth. There can be no… ![“There can be no democracy without truth. There can be no truth without controversy, there can be no change without freedom. Without freedom there can be no progress.” quote by Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/andrew-young-5409_change_there-can-be-no-democracy-without-truth_1496331.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/andrew-young-5409_change_there-can-be-no-democracy-without-truth_1496331.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/andrew-young-5409_change_there-can-be-no-democracy-without-truth_1496331.png) > “There can be no democracy without truth. There can be no truth without controversy, there can be no change without freedom. Without freedom there can be no progress.” [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy relies on truth, controversy, freedom, and progress; each element sustains the others **In simple terms:** Freedom and truth are essential for democratic progress Key Takeaway Protect truth and freedom for progress Themes politics democracy truth Mood determined hopeful Type political motivational When to use this quote - voting - activism - public debate Key Concepts social theory civil rights Questions to Reflect On - How can societies encourage healthy controversy? - What safeguards protect truth in democracy? A Different Perspective Controversy can polarize societies ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Controversy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversy/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-truth-1292922/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-freedom-233461/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-truth-251801/) [Without](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without/) ## Related quotes > [Parliamentary democracy is, in truth, little more than a means of securing a periodical change in the management team, which is then allowed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/parliamentary-democracy-is-in-truth-little-more-than-a-means-of/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [“No one has a monopoly on the truth, but the whole premise of our democracy is that truth and justice must win out. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/no-one-has-a-monopoly-on-the-truth-but-the-whole-premise-of-our/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [I have seen, and I know firsthand, indeed from my own pen, how the organized Right has sabotaged not only journalism but also democracy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/i-have-seen-and-i-know-firsthand-indeed-from-my-own-pen-how-the/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [All forms of the state have democracy for their truth, and for that reason are false to the extent that they are not democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/all-forms-of-the-state-have-democracy-for-their-truth-and-for-that/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [It's all a sham: I have seen, and I know firsthand, indeed from my own pen, how the organized Right has sabotaged not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/it-s-all-a-sham-i-have-seen-and-i-know-firsthand-indeed-from-my-own/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [If all I get is a little controversy for speaking the truth, if I did less, I would not be worth living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/if-all-i-get-is-a-little-controversy-for-speaking-the-truth-if-i-did/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [I think we've made tremendous progress on racism. We've even made progress on war. We've made almost no progress on poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/i-think-we-ve-made-tremendous-progress-on-racism-we-ve-even-made/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [In the last analysis, our only freedom is the freedom to discipline ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-baruch/in-the-last-analysis-our-only-freedom-is-the-freedom-to-discipline/) [Bernard Baruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-baruch/) > [You don't disarm any white community by confining yourself to any particular method. If you want freedom, then you should get freedom like Patrick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/you-don-t-disarm-any-white-community-by-confining-yourself-to-any/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The practical reason for freedom is that freedom seems to be the only condition under which any kind of substantial moral fiber can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/the-practical-reason-for-freedom-is-that-freedom-seems-to-be-the-only/) [Albert J. Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-j-nock/) > [Freedom is... freedom can actually be boring, you've got to realize that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-molyneux/freedom-is-freedom-can-actually-be-boring-you-ve-got-to-realize-that/) [Peter Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-molyneux/) > [Do not be deluded by the abstract word Freedom. Whose freedom? Not the freedom of one individual in relation to another, but freedom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/do-not-be-deluded-by-the-abstract-word-freedom-whose-freedom-not-the/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Man's last freedom is his freedom to choose how he will react in any given situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/man-s-last-freedom-is-his-freedom-to-choose-how-he-will-react-in-any/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“My holy of holies are the human body, health, intelligence, talent, inspiration, love, and the most absolute freedom - freedom from force and falsity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/my-holy-of-holies-are-the-human-body-health-intelligence-talent/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [If there is a choice between absolute safety and freedom, then freedom must always prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-there-is-a-choice-between-absolute-safety-and-freedom-then-freedom/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) ## More by Andrew Young > [Civil rights leaders are involved in helping poor people. That's what I've been doing all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/civil-rights-leaders-are-involved-in-helping-poor-people-that-s-what/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [I think we've made tremendous progress on racism. We've even made progress on war. We've made almost no progress on poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/i-think-we-ve-made-tremendous-progress-on-racism-we-ve-even-made/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [Any racial reconciliation we've had in this country has come not out of confrontation but out of a spirit of reconciliation. If we continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/any-racial-reconciliation-we-ve-had-in-this-country-has-come-not-out/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [I wouldn't listen to my parents, but I found out that I absorbed. I never heard what they said - told me - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/i-wouldn-t-listen-to-my-parents-but-i-found-out-that-i-absorbed-i/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [In a world where change is inevitable and continuous, the need to achieve that change without violence is essential for survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/in-a-world-where-change-is-inevitable-and-continuous-the-need-to/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [There's no problem on the planet that can't be solved without violence. That's the lesson of the civil rights movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/there-s-no-problem-on-the-planet-that-can-t-be-solved-without/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [More and more I find I'm really impressed with how much my son knows and how much he thinks like me. But he never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/more-and-more-i-find-i-m-really-impressed-with-how-much-my-son-knows/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [Look at those they call unfortunate and at a closer view, you'll find many of them are unwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/look-at-those-they-call-unfortunate-and-at-a-closer-view-you-ll-find/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [We've changed in the sense that we flipped - and this is no longer the Republican party of Lincoln. This is the party of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/we-ve-changed-in-the-sense-that-we-flipped-and-this-is-no-longer-the/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [I call upon both Republicans and Democrats to work with us to have a national ID card that is free and accessible. President Lyndon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/i-call-upon-both-republicans-and-democrats-to-work-with-us-to-have-a/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [“Nothing is illegal if one hundred businessmen decide to do it. -Andrew Young, author, civil rights activist, US congressman, mayor, and UN ambassador (b. 1932)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/nothing-is-illegal-if-one-hundred-businessmen-decide-to-do-it-andrew/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [The commercialization of sport is the democratization of sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/the-commercialization-of-sport-is-the-democratization-of-sport/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [I have about concluded that wealth is a state of mind, and that anyone can acquire a wealthy state of mind by thinking rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/i-have-about-concluded-that-wealth-is-a-state-of-mind-and-that-anyone/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [Martin Luther King said America had given a bad check to black people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/martin-luther-king-said-america-had-given-a-bad-check-to-black-people/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [I was raised that way: don't get mad, get smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/i-was-raised-that-way-don-t-get-mad-get-smart/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) [Explore all 101 Andrew Young quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There can be no democracy without truth. 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