--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy in some ways is a very…" description: "\"Democracy in some ways is a very illogical political system. When you win an election, you have to preserve the institutions that would make it possibl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a68/anne-applebaum-2544_democracy_democracy-in-some-ways-is-a-very-illogic_554968.png" --- # Democracy in some ways is a very illogical political… ![“Democracy in some ways is a very illogical political system. When you win an election, you have to preserve the institutions that would make it possible for your political enemies to win next time. If you think about it, that's almost antithetical to human nature.” quote by Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a68/anne-applebaum-2544_democracy_democracy-in-some-ways-is-a-very-illogic_554968.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a68/anne-applebaum-2544_democracy_democracy-in-some-ways-is-a-very-illogic_554968.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a68/anne-applebaum-2544_democracy_democracy-in-some-ways-is-a-very-illogic_554968.png) > “Democracy in some ways is a very illogical political system. When you win an election, you have to preserve the institutions that would make it possible for your political enemies to win next time. If you think about it, that's almost antithetical to human nature.” [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy requires preserving institutions that enable future opposition, which can feel contrary to self‑interest. **In simple terms:** Democracy demands fair rules even for rivals. Key Takeaway Uphold institutional fairness. Themes politics democracy institutional design Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - elections - legislative reform - civic education - power transitions - political strategy Key Concepts checks and balances political theory human nature Questions to Reflect On - Why is it important to protect rivals in a democracy? - How does this tension affect voter trust? A Different Perspective Maintaining opposition rights can be politically costly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-ways-2694302/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Illogical Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illogical-political-4612860/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Next time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-time/) [Political enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-enemies/) [Political system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-system/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Win Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-election/) ## Related quotes > [In the American political system, you're only allowed to have real ideas if it's absolutely guaranteed that you can't win an election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-the-american-political-system-you-re-only-allowed-to-have-real/) [P. 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It is clearly evil and we have a responsibility to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/anyone-who-speaks-of-punishing-their-political-enemies-in-on-the/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [“After years of watching adversaries comb through her public records for any hint of a scandal, and after accessing her own aides’ e-mails, Hillary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-allen/after-years-of-watching-adversaries-comb-through-her-public-records/) [Jonathan Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-allen/) > [Capitalism’s biggest political enemies are not the firebrand trade unionists spewing vitriol against the system but the executives in pin-striped suits extolling the virtues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghuram-rajan/capitalism-s-biggest-political-enemies-are-not-the-firebrand-trade/) [Raghuram Rajan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghuram-rajan/) > [This country does not punish its political enemies. What this country ensures is that no one is above the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/this-country-does-not-punish-its-political-enemies-what-this-country/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [I'm falling back on what some of the standard protocols for politics are after victory. 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