--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy means government by discussion…" description: "\"Democracy means government by discussion, but it is only effective if you can stop people talking.\" — Clement Attlee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/clement-attlee-18762_democracy_democracy-means-government-by-discussion_2301030.jpg" --- # Democracy means government by discussion, but it is only… ![“Democracy means government by discussion, but it is only effective if you can stop people talking.” quote by Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/clement-attlee-18762_democracy_democracy-means-government-by-discussion_2301030.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/clement-attlee-18762_democracy_democracy-means-government-by-discussion_2301030.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/clement-attlee-18762_democracy_democracy-means-government-by-discussion_2301030.jpg) > “Democracy means government by discussion, but it is only effective if you can stop people talking.” [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy thrives on discussion, yet effective governance requires limiting endless debate to reach decisions. **In simple terms:** Discussion is vital, but too much hinders action. Key Takeaway Balance dialogue with decisive action. Themes democracy governance communication Mood analytical concerned Type political educational When to use this quote - legislative sessions - board meetings - public forums - team projects Key Concepts deliberative process political theory Questions to Reflect On - When should debate be curtailed? - How to protect dissent while staying efficient? A Different Perspective Excessive restriction can suppress minority voices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-means/) [Discussion Effective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discussion-effective-5439125/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Discussion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-discussion-5439124/) [Means Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-government-562958/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-talking/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Stop People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop-people/) ## Related quotes > [You can't stop people from talking about you, but you can give them something to talk about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-stop-people-from-talking-about-you-but-you-can-give-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democratic socialism means that our government does everything it can to create a full employment economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/democratic-socialism-means-that-our-government-does-everything-it-can/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Freedom of speech means freedom for those who you despise, and freedom to express the most despicable views. It also means that the government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/freedom-of-speech-means-freedom-for-those-who-you-despise-and-freedom/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [In the American political lexicon, 'change' always means more of the same: more government, more looting of Americans, more inflation, more police-state measures, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/in-the-american-political-lexicon-change-always-means-more-of-the/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [The source of the government's authority is “the consent of the governed.” This means that the government is not the ruler, but the servant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/the-source-of-the-government-s-authority-is-the-consent-of-the/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [What is Maximum Governance, Minimum Government? It means government has no business to be in business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/what-is-maximum-governance-minimum-government-it-means-government-has/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Capitalism means free enterprise, sovereignty of the consumers in economic matters, and sovereignty of the voters in political matters. Socialism means full government control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/capitalism-means-free-enterprise-sovereignty-of-the-consumers-in/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [What does a political revolution look like? It means that 80 percent of the people vote in national elections, not 40 percent. It means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/what-does-a-political-revolution-look-like-it-means-that-80-percent/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Free speech rights means that government officials are barred from creating lists of approved and disapproved political ideas and then using the power of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/free-speech-rights-means-that-government-officials-are-barred-from/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [Trump's election means that you have a US government that will no longer do one thing and say another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-davidson/trump-s-election-means-that-you-have-a-us-government-that-will-no/) [Lawrence Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-davidson/) > [Freedom means the U.S. government not being the main threat to countries around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/freedom-means-the-u-s-government-not-being-the-main-threat-to/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [Socialism means government dependency, rationed resources, and exorbitant taxation. It means the destruction of every incentive to achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/socialism-means-government-dependency-rationed-resources-and/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [We can't stop people from thinking what they want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-fazal/we-can-t-stop-people-from-thinking-what-they-want-to/) [Ali Fazal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-fazal/) > [When people with power see things happen of which they disapprove, they drop bombs and send in tanks. When people without power see things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-people-with-power-see-things-happen-of-which-they-disapprove/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Obstacles can't stop you. Problems can't stop you. Most of all, other people can't stop you. Only you can stop you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/obstacles-can-t-stop-you-problems-can-t-stop-you-most-of-all-other/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Clement Attlee > [The real test of one's belief in the doctrine of Habeas Corpus is not when one demands its application on behalf of one's friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/the-real-test-of-one-s-belief-in-the-doctrine-of-habeas-corpus-is-not/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [The House of Lords is like a glass of champagne that has stood for five days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/the-house-of-lords-is-like-a-glass-of-champagne-that-has-stood-for/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/i-must-remind-the-right-honourable-gentleman-that-a-monologue-is-not/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [Not Churchill. Sixty-five, old for a Churchill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/not-churchill-sixty-five-old-for-a-churchill/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [Can't publish. Don't rhyme, don't scan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/can-t-publish-don-t-rhyme-don-t-scan/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [Man's material discoveries have outpaced his moral progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/man-s-material-discoveries-have-outpaced-his-moral-progress/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [It's nice to keep in touch - besides, it's the only place in London where you can park a car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/it-s-nice-to-keep-in-touch-besides-it-s-the-only-place-in-london/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [You will be judged by what you succeed at gentlemen, not by what you attempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/you-will-be-judged-by-what-you-succeed-at-gentlemen-not-by-what-you/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [There is a denial of the value of the individual. Christianity affirms the value of each individual soul. Nazism denies it. The individual is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/there-is-a-denial-of-the-value-of-the-individual-christianity-affirms/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [The press lives on disaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/the-press-lives-on-disaster/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [I am pleased to see from the laughter on the Ministerial benches that there is no implication on their part to take Sir Oswald…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/i-am-pleased-to-see-from-the-laughter-on-the-ministerial-benches-that/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [If you begin to consider yourself solely responsible to a political party, you're half-way to a dictatorship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/if-you-begin-to-consider-yourself-solely-responsible-to-a-political/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [I am a diffident man. I find it hard to carry on a conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/i-am-a-diffident-man-i-find-it-hard-to-carry-on-a-conversation/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [Winston Churchill - fifty per cent genius, fifty per cent bloody fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/winston-churchill-fifty-per-cent-genius-fifty-per-cent-bloody-fool/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [Charity is a cold grey loveless thing. If a rich man wants to help the poor, he should pay his taxes gladly, not dole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/charity-is-a-cold-grey-loveless-thing-if-a-rich-man-wants-to-help-the/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) [Explore all 33 Clement Attlee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) ## 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": "Democracy means government by discussion, but it is only effective if you can stop people talking.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Clement Attlee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/democracy-means-government-by-discussion-but-it-is-only-effective-if/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Democracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/democracy-means-government-by-discussion-but-it-is-only-effective-if/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/clement-attlee-18762_democracy_democracy-means-government-by-discussion_2301030.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/clement-attlee-18762_democracy_democracy-means-government-by-discussion_2301030.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14d/clement-attlee-18762_democracy_democracy-means-government-by-discussion_2301030.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Democracy means government by discussion, but it is only effective if you can stop people talking.” — Clement Attlee", "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": "Clement Attlee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Democracy means government by discussion, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/democracy-means-government-by-discussion-but-it-is-only-effective-if/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/democracy-means-government-by-discussion-but-it-is-only-effective-if/#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 } } ] } ```