--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Today it is the Western democratic…" description: "\"“Today it is the Western democratic tradition that attracts and empowers people of all continents, creeds, and colors. When the Chinese students cried ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62f/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2-2017_statue-of-liberty_today-it-is-the-western-democratic-tradi_1899486.jpg" --- # Today it is the Western democratic tradition that attracts… ![“Today it is the Western democratic tradition that attracts and empowers people of all continents, creeds, and colors. When the Chinese students cried and died for democracy in Tiananmen Square, they brought with them not representations of Confucius or Buddha but a model of the Statue of Liberty.” quote by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62f/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2-2017_statue-of-liberty_today-it-is-the-western-democratic-tradi_1899486.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62f/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2-2017_statue-of-liberty_today-it-is-the-western-democratic-tradi_1899486.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62f/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2-2017_statue-of-liberty_today-it-is-the-western-democratic-tradi_1899486.jpg) > ““Today it is the Western democratic tradition that attracts and empowers people of all continents, creeds, and colors. When the Chinese students cried and died for democracy in Tiananmen Square, they brought with them not representations of Confucius or Buddha but a model of the Statue of Liberty.”” [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Western democracy inspires globally, even among those facing oppression, offering a universal symbol of freedom. **In simple terms:** Democracy is a global beacon. Key Takeaway Embrace democratic values. Themes politics freedom global influence Mood hopeful reflective Type philosophical political When to use this quote - education - activism - policy making Key Concepts human rights symbolic power cultural exchange Questions to Reflect On - What symbols unite diverse peoples? - How can democracy adapt to different cultures? A Different Perspective Idealism may overlook local complexities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Statue of liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statue-of-liberty/) [Tiananmen square](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tiananmen-square/) ## Related quotes > [You do not keep American democracy in suspense. Because, look, too many people have marched and protested and fought and died for this democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/you-do-not-keep-american-democracy-in-suspense-because-look-too-many/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [“What is soft power? It is the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion or payments. It arises from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-s-nye-jr/what-is-soft-power-it-is-the-ability-to-get-what-you-want-through/) Joseph S. Nye Jr > [We lack a political culture, a culture of compromise. We in Poland, as well as the Hungarians, have never learned this sort of thing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-michnik/we-lack-a-political-culture-a-culture-of-compromise-we-in-poland-as/) [Adam Michnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-michnik/) > [Campaign promises are - by long democratic tradition - the least binding form of human commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/campaign-promises-are-by-long-democratic-tradition-the-least-binding/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [Turkey has a long, proud democratic tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-ortagus/turkey-has-a-long-proud-democratic-tradition/) [Morgan Ortagus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-ortagus/) > [“The conception of secular state is derived from the liberal democratic tradition of west. No institution which is maintained wholly out of state funds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-r-ambedkar-2/the-conception-of-secular-state-is-derived-from-the-liberal/) [B.R. 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Political freedom will ultimately break out of its shackles. Tiananmen Square was only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-same-thing-will-happen-in-china-that-happened-in-chile-political/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [If you go to Tiananmen Square, or go to any public area in China, you will hear my music at some point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-g/if-you-go-to-tiananmen-square-or-go-to-any-public-area-in-china-you/) [Kenny G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-g/) > [“Austere government buildings lined the edges, standing in the square an individual felt like a speck of dust.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-vetta/austere-government-buildings-lined-the-edges-standing-in-the-square/) Sylvia Vetta > [I think the only way that the U.S. human spaceflight program is going to get really revitalized, really put sort of an Apollo level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-hammel/i-think-the-only-way-that-the-u-s-human-spaceflight-program-is-going/) [Heidi Hammel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-hammel/) > [The virtual world is a 'public square' much more vast than Tiananmen Square. And you can't send in the tanks to crush the netizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-cohen/the-virtual-world-is-a-public-square-much-more-vast-than-tiananmen/) [Jared Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-cohen/) > [We proposed Tiananmen Square - this very empty political square in the city centre - should turn green. Maybe in the future, this space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ma-yansong/we-proposed-tiananmen-square-this-very-empty-political-square-in-the/) [Ma Yansong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ma-yansong/) ## More by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr > [“In 1856 the Know-Nothings even ran a former president, Millard Fillmore, as their presidential candidate. "Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/in-1856-the-know-nothings-even-ran-a-former-president-millard/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“for an informed judgment”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/for-an-informed-judgment/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“His peroration, no doubt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/his-peroration-no-doubt/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“The Irish were regarded as shiftless and drunken; moreover, they were papists, and their fealty to Rome, it was said, meant they could never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/the-irish-were-regarded-as-shiftless-and-drunken-moreover-they-were/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“Yet the old faith in the power of Bryce's "amazing solvent" to fulfill Washington's conception of Americans as "one people" held fast. However much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/yet-the-old-faith-in-the-power-of-bryce-s-amazing-solvent-to-fulfill/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [ “\[P\]ressed too far, the cult of ethnicity has had bad consequences too. The new ethnic gospel rejects the unifying vision of individuals from all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/p-ressed-too-far-the-cult-of-ethnicity-has-had-bad-consequences-too/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [ “\[I\]s there not something basically hostile to the actor's art in the consanguinity principle? After all, what is acting but an exercise in dissimulation?… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/i-s-there-not-something-basically-hostile-to-the-actor-s-art-in-the/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“Let us by all means teach black history, African history, women's history, Hispanic history, Asian history. But let us teach them as history, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/let-us-by-all-means-teach-black-history-african-history-women-s/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“In New York the curriculum guide for 11th-grade American history tells students that there were three "foundations" for the Constitution: the European Enlightenment, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/in-new-york-the-curriculum-guide-for-11th-grade-american-history/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“but also where the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/but-also-where-the/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“Though Fidel came to boast of his Marxism-Leninism, he himself never joined the Communist Party. As the revolution careened along, the Communists may even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/though-fidel-came-to-boast-of-his-marxism-leninism-he-himself-never/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“To what extent did Castro at this point conceal secret communist purposes? He later said that he hid radical views in order to hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/to-what-extent-did-castro-at-this-point-conceal-secret-communist/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“In 1974, after testimony from ethnic spokesmen denouncing the melting pot as a conspiracy to homogenize America, Congress passed the Ethnic Heritage Studies Program…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/in-1974-after-testimony-from-ethnic-spokesmen-denouncing-the-melting/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“Multiculturalism" arises as a reaction against Anglo- or Eurocentrism; but at what point does it mutate into an ethnocentrism of its own?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/multiculturalism-arises-as-a-reaction-against-anglo-or-eurocentrism/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [“In the Skokie case, it upheld the right of neo-Nazis to parade down the streets of an Illinois town inhabited by Holocaust survivors and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/in-the-skokie-case-it-upheld-the-right-of-neo-nazis-to-parade-down/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) [Explore all 31 Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. 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. 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