--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A healthy democracy requires a decent…" description: "\"A healthy democracy requires a decent society; it requires that we are honorable, generous, tolerant and respectful.\" — Charles W. Pickering" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/charles-w-pickering-31961_decent_a-healthy-democracy-requires-a-decent-so_1181339.jpg" --- # A healthy democracy requires a decent society; it requires… ![“A healthy democracy requires a decent society; it requires that we are honorable, generous, tolerant and respectful.” quote by Charles W. Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/charles-w-pickering-31961_decent_a-healthy-democracy-requires-a-decent-so_1181339.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/charles-w-pickering-31961_decent_a-healthy-democracy-requires-a-decent-so_1181339.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/charles-w-pickering-31961_decent_a-healthy-democracy-requires-a-decent-so_1181339.jpg) > “A healthy democracy requires a decent society; it requires that we are honorable, generous, tolerant and respectful.” [Charles W. Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-pickering/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A thriving democracy depends on a virtuous, generous, and tolerant citizenry. **In simple terms:** Good society underpins democracy. Key Takeaway Cultivate honor and generosity. Themes democracy ethics society Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical call to action When to use this quote - education - community service - public discourse - policy making Key Concepts civic virtue social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - How can societies foster generosity? - What challenges threaten democratic virtue? A Different Perspective Idealistic view may overlook systemic inequalities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decent/) [Decent Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decent-society-893108/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Requires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-requires-446364/) [Generous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generous/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Healthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthy/) [Healthy Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthy-democracy-1540835/) [Honorable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honorable/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Respectful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respectful/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Society Requires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society-requires-2029255/) ## Related quotes > [A stable 21st century society requires 21st century solutions not 20th century economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-harding/a-stable-21st-century-society-requires-21st-century-solutions-not/) [Phil Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-harding/) > [Individual liberty, the basic underpinning of American society, requires constant defense against the encroachment of the state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/individual-liberty-the-basic-underpinning-of-american-society/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) > [Act wise,think twice because the phenomenon of the society requires to be sentitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-ajibola/act-wise-think-twice-because-the-phenomenon-of-the-society-requires/) [Adewale Ajibola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-ajibola/) > [Having confidence in a free society is to focus on the process of discovery in the marketplace of values rather than to focus on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-schoolland/having-confidence-in-a-free-society-is-to-focus-on-the-process-of/) [Ken Schoolland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-schoolland/) > [“Life in society requires consensus as an indispensable condition. 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You can trust them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-christian/sci-fi-nerds-are-respectful-honorable-you-can-trust-them/) [Claudia Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-christian/) > [The defenders of decent society and the disciples of degeneracy are often the same people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-carr/the-defenders-of-decent-society-and-the-disciples-of-degeneracy-are/) [Caleb Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-carr/) > [In the literal sense, there has been no relevant evolution since the trek from Africa. But there has been substantial progress towards higher standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/in-the-literal-sense-there-has-been-no-relevant-evolution-since-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I think a decent society should protect rights to private property within limits, but not concentrations of private power that infringe on the freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-think-a-decent-society-should-protect-rights-to-private-property/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Any decent society has to be built on trust and love and the intelligent use of information and feelings. Education involves being able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-horton/any-decent-society-has-to-be-built-on-trust-and-love-and-the/) [Myles Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-horton/) > [... an essential feature of a decent society, and an almost defining feature of a democratic society, is relative equality of outcome - not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/an-essential-feature-of-a-decent-society-and-an-almost-defining/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More by Charles W. Pickering > [In addition to fines, violators of decency standards could be required to air public service announcements serving educational and informational needs of children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-pickering/in-addition-to-fines-violators-of-decency-standards-could-be-required/) [Charles W. Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-pickering/) > [Millions of Americans every year depend upon medical imaging exams to diagnose disease and detect injury, and thousands more rely on radiation therapy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-pickering/millions-of-americans-every-year-depend-upon-medical-imaging-exams-to/) [Charles W. Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-pickering/) > [The House is rooted in the principle of direct elections and is unique among all branches and bodies of the federal government as without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-pickering/the-house-is-rooted-in-the-principle-of-direct-elections-and-is/) [Charles W. Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-pickering/) > [In states where no regulation exists, anyone is permitted to perform medical imaging and radiation therapy procedures, sometimes after just a few weeks of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-pickering/in-states-where-no-regulation-exists-anyone-is-permitted-to-perform/) [Charles W. Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-pickering/) > [Lawsuit abuse is a major contributor to the increased costs of healthcare, goods and services to consumers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-pickering/lawsuit-abuse-is-a-major-contributor-to-the-increased-costs-of/) [Charles W. Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-pickering/) > [The current lack of a national standard for operators of medical imaging and radiation therapy equipment poses a hazard to American patients and jeopardizes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-pickering/the-current-lack-of-a-national-standard-for-operators-of-medical/) [Charles W. Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-pickering/) > [Our legislation addresses broadcasts over the public airwaves, but I hope the cable and satellite industries see the importance of this issue and voluntarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-pickering/our-legislation-addresses-broadcasts-over-the-public-airwaves-but-i/) [Charles W. Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-pickering/) > [The CARE bill is an important piece of patient-care legislation. It will improve the quality of radiologic procedures performed throughout the United States as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-pickering/the-care-bill-is-an-important-piece-of-patient-care-legislation-it/) [Charles W. Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-pickering/) > [The public airwaves provide a chance to affirm we want to be a good, decent people; a good, decent nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-pickering/the-public-airwaves-provide-a-chance-to-affirm-we-want-to-be-a-good/) [Charles W. Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-pickering/) > [America does not want vulgarity and sexual exploitation to be our values and we do not want the world to think those are our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-pickering/america-does-not-want-vulgarity-and-sexual-exploitation-to-be-our/) [Charles W. Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-pickering/) > [Twenty-first century medicine must not be confined to a twentieth-century bureaucracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-pickering/twenty-first-century-medicine-must-not-be-confined-to-a-twentieth/) [Charles W. Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-pickering/) > [If a catastrophic event wipes out a large portion of House members, America needs to know this body, elected by the people, will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-pickering/if-a-catastrophic-event-wipes-out-a-large-portion-of-house-members/) [Charles W. Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-pickering/) > [In recent years, research into the prevention and treatment of arthritis has led to measures that successfully reduce pain and improve the quality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-pickering/in-recent-years-research-into-the-prevention-and-treatment-of/) [Charles W. Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-pickering/) > [Media corporations have a civic responsibility not only to prevent fraud and financial abuse, but also to not corrupt or degrade our culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-pickering/media-corporations-have-a-civic-responsibility-not-only-to-prevent/) [Charles W. Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-pickering/) > [Strokes are preventable and treatable. Prompt treatment of patients experiencing stroke saves lives and reduces disability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-pickering/strokes-are-preventable-and-treatable-prompt-treatment-of-patients/) [Charles W. Pickering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-pickering/) [Explore all 16 Charles W. Pickering quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-pickering/) ## More Decent quotes > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [As long as I can sing halfway decent, I'd rather sing than act. There's nothing like being in good voice, feeling good, having good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-keel/as-long-as-i-can-sing-halfway-decent-i-d-rather-sing-than-act-there-s/) [Howard Keel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-keel/) > [You weren't a decent man and you didn't do your best. We none of us were and none of us did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-weren-t-a-decent-man-and-you-didn-t-do-your-best-we-none-of-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes the challenge of beating the jet lag and getting a decent sleep can be as hard to solve as finding the right setup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-grosjean/sometimes-the-challenge-of-beating-the-jet-lag-and-getting-a-decent/) [Romain Grosjean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-grosjean/) > [For it is an absurdity to call a country civilized in which a decent and industrious man, laboriously mastering a trade which is valuble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/for-it-is-an-absurdity-to-call-a-country-civilized-in-which-a-decent/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [If you listen to the radio for a whole hour there's maybe one decent song. 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Musicians, fans of music, and grassroots political organizations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/music-and-the-arts-feed-our-souls-but-a-decent-wage-puts-food-on-the/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [The 'key-log' which must be moved to release the evolutionary process for an ethic is simply this: quit thinking about decent land-use as solely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/land-ethic/the-key-log-which-must-be-moved-to-release-the-evolutionary-process/) [Land ethic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/land-ethic/) > [The recurrent laryngeal nerve - which runs from the head to the voice box - goes all the way down into the chest, loops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-recurrent-laryngeal-nerve-which-runs-from-the-head-to-the-voice/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Every New Yorker spends a certain amount of nervous energy thinking, "How can I afford to stay here? What do I have to sell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-zukin/every-new-yorker-spends-a-certain-amount-of-nervous-energy-thinking/) [Sharon Zukin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-zukin/) > [It is something that most parents hope for in life: That their children will be moderately successful, polite, decent human beings. Anything on top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-kramer/it-is-something-that-most-parents-hope-for-in-life-that-their/) [Jerry Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-kramer/) > [ \[Religion\] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integrity-the-core-of-our-self/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [takes a devil to make a decent angel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-spanbauer/takes-a-devil-to-make-a-decent-angel/) [Tom Spanbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-spanbauer/) > [I guess the only thing to do now is meet his parents. I'm sure they're decent people. I mean they gotta be if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-guess-the-only-thing-to-do-now-is-meet-his-parents-i-m-sure-they-re/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) [Browse all 1,392 Decent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A healthy democracy requires a decent society; it requires that we are honorable, generous, tolerant and respectful.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles W. 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