--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a democracy one must have the right to…" description: "\"In a democracy one must have the right to express oneself and that's what I do, even if it displeases.\" — Brigitte Bardot" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/brigitte-bardot-2621_democracy_in-a-democracy-one-must-have-the-right-t_1533191.jpg" --- # In a democracy one must have the right to express oneself… ![“In a democracy one must have the right to express oneself and that's what I do, even if it displeases.” quote by Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/brigitte-bardot-2621_democracy_in-a-democracy-one-must-have-the-right-t_1533191.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/brigitte-bardot-2621_democracy_in-a-democracy-one-must-have-the-right-t_1533191.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/brigitte-bardot-2621_democracy_in-a-democracy-one-must-have-the-right-t_1533191.jpg) > “In a democracy one must have the right to express oneself and that's what I do, even if it displeases.” [Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Expressing personal views is a democratic right, even when unpopular. **In simple terms:** Free speech is essential even if unpopular. Key Takeaway Defend your right to speak. Themes democracy free speech individuality Mood assertive defiant Type political activist When to use this quote - political rallies - social media debates - community meetings Key Concepts civil liberties expression public discourse Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance honesty with respect? - When should speech be limited? A Different Perspective Freedom may provoke backlash or conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-right-749695/) [Displeases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/displeases-1324396/) [Even](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/even/) [Express](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/express/) [Express Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/express-oneself-1111088/) [Must](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/must/) [Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself/) [Oneself Displeases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself-displeases-5693968/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) ## Related quotes > [We have never considered our brand superior or inferior to any other one, and we have never spoken about our work in comparison to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domenico-dolce/we-have-never-considered-our-brand-superior-or-inferior-to-any-other/) [Domenico Dolce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domenico-dolce/) > [“You asked what you’d done to displease me and I told you: you’re breathing. And in much too close a proximity to me. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-c-cast/you-asked-what-you-d-done-to-displease-me-and-i-told-you-you-re/) [P.C. Cast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-c-cast/) > [Nobody wants to make something that displeases people, but once you make a film, that's out of your control and you can't think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/nobody-wants-to-make-something-that-displeases-people-but-once-you/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [Everything in the world displeases me: but, above all, my displeasure in everything displeases me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/everything-in-the-world-displeases-me-but-above-all-my-displeasure-in/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [There's always something about your success that displeases even your best friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/there-s-always-something-about-your-success-that-displeases-even-your/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [He who indulges his sense in any excesses renders himself obnoxious to his own reason; and, to gratify the brute in him, displeases the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/he-who-indulges-his-sense-in-any-excesses-renders-himself-obnoxious/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [The good displeases us when we are not up to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-good-displeases-us-when-we-are-not-up-to-it/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Honestly expressing yourself...it is very difficult to do. I mean it is easy for me to put on a show and be cocky and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/honestly-expressing-yourself-it-is-very-difficult-to-do-i-mean-it-is/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [One must see one's model correctly and experience it in the right way; and furthermore express oneself forcibly and with distinction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/one-must-see-one-s-model-correctly-and-experience-it-in-the-right-way/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [It is important to express oneself...provided the feelings are real and are taken from you own experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berthe-morisot/it-is-important-to-express-oneself-provided-the-feelings-are-real-and/) [Berthe Morisot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berthe-morisot/) > [“To express oneself badly is not only faulty as far as the language goes, but does some harm to the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/to-express-oneself-badly-is-not-only-faulty-as-far-as-the-language/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [The need to express oneself in writing springs from a mal-adjustment to life, or from an inner conflict which the adolescent (or the grown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/the-need-to-express-oneself-in-writing-springs-from-a-mal-adjustment/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [To live is to express, and to express you have to create. Creation is never merely repetition. To live is to express oneself freely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/to-live-is-to-express-and-to-express-you-have-to-create-creation-is/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [It is easy for me to put on a show and be cocky..but to express oneself honestly not lying to oneself, now that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/it-is-easy-for-me-to-put-on-a-show-and-be-cocky-but-to-express/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [To live is to express oneself freely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/to-live-is-to-express-oneself-freely/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) ## More by Brigitte Bardot > [I stopped making films to look after animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/i-stopped-making-films-to-look-after-animals/) [Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/) > [I am typically French.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/i-am-typically-french/) [Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/) > [Films have never shown the kind of relationship that can exist between two women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/films-have-never-shown-the-kind-of-relationship-that-can-exist/) [Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/) > [Percentages are why I am rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/percentages-are-why-i-am-rich/) [Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/) > [I have no regrets. If I wanted to keep acting, I would have never left the cinema.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/i-have-no-regrets-if-i-wanted-to-keep-acting-i-would-have-never-left/) [Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/) > [I really am a cat transformed into a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/i-really-am-a-cat-transformed-into-a-woman/) [Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/) > [Fame had brought me so much unhappiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/fame-had-brought-me-so-much-unhappiness/) [Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/) > [I say what I think and I think what I say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/i-say-what-i-think-and-i-think-what-i-say/) [Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/) > [I wanted to be myself. Only myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/i-wanted-to-be-myself-only-myself/) [Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/) > [If people don't like me, I become very plain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/if-people-don-t-like-me-i-become-very-plain/) [Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/) > [A film about my life? But I am not dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/a-film-about-my-life-but-i-am-not-dead/) [Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/) > [The page has turned. Cinema is finished for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/the-page-has-turned-cinema-is-finished-for-me/) [Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/) > [Wisdom is knowing when to speak your mind and mind your speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/wisdom-is-knowing-when-to-speak-your-mind-and-mind-your-speech/) [Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/) > [If I go to a restaurant, other people stare. The meal is ruined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/if-i-go-to-a-restaurant-other-people-stare-the-meal-is-ruined/) [Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/) > [Now, if there was one woman in the world who didn't need publicity, who always had too much publicity, it was me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/now-if-there-was-one-woman-in-the-world-who-didn-t-need-publicity-who/) [Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/) [Explore all 157 Brigitte Bardot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/) ## 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. 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": "In a democracy one must have the right to express oneself and that's what I do, even if it displeases.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brigitte Bardot" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/in-a-democracy-one-must-have-the-right-to-express-oneself-and-that-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Democracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/in-a-democracy-one-must-have-the-right-to-express-oneself-and-that-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/brigitte-bardot-2621_democracy_in-a-democracy-one-must-have-the-right-t_1533191.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/brigitte-bardot-2621_democracy_in-a-democracy-one-must-have-the-right-t_1533191.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8c/brigitte-bardot-2621_democracy_in-a-democracy-one-must-have-the-right-t_1533191.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In a democracy one must have the right to express oneself and that's what I do, even if it displeases.” — Brigitte Bardot", "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": "Brigitte Bardot", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In a democracy one must have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/in-a-democracy-one-must-have-the-right-to-express-oneself-and-that-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/in-a-democracy-one-must-have-the-right-to-express-oneself-and-that-s/#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 } } ] } ```