--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democrats need to define themselves - not…" description: "\"Democrats need to define themselves - not what they're against or who they're against, but we have got to define ourselves with what we're for.\" — Cory..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6a/cory-booker-2546_against_democrats-need-to-define-themselves-not_2207059.jpg" --- # Democrats need to define themselves - not what they're… ![“Democrats need to define themselves - not what they're against or who they're against, but we have got to define ourselves with what we're for.” quote by Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6a/cory-booker-2546_against_democrats-need-to-define-themselves-not_2207059.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6a/cory-booker-2546_against_democrats-need-to-define-themselves-not_2207059.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d6a/cory-booker-2546_against_democrats-need-to-define-themselves-not_2207059.jpg) > “Democrats need to define themselves - not what they're against or who they're against, but we have got to define ourselves with what we're for.” [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A party should define its positive goals rather than focusing on opposition. **In simple terms:** Define what you stand for. Key Takeaway Focus on your vision. Themes politics identity values Mood inspirational determined Type political motivational When to use this quote - campaign planning - policy development - public speaking Key Concepts Party strategy public messaging Questions to Reflect On - What positive values will you champion? - How can you communicate them effectively? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on opposition can alienate voters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democrats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrats/) ## Related quotes > [You need to define yourself in the marketplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-madden/you-need-to-define-yourself-in-the-marketplace/) [Steve Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-madden/) > [“You need others to define who you are”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/you-need-others-to-define-who-you-are/) S.E. SEVER > [I think what Democrats need to do is they need to work for the country and make sure that not only the southern border…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/i-think-what-democrats-need-to-do-is-they-need-to-work-for-the/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) > [Democrats need to become a 50-state party. You can't have a great party on the West Coast and the East Coast. You need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/democrats-need-to-become-a-50-state-party-you-can-t-have-a-great/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [We define ourselves as intelligent. That's odd, because we're doing the definition - We're creating our own definition and saying, 'We are intelligent!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/we-define-ourselves-as-intelligent-that-s-odd-because-we-re-doing-the/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [People define themselves to some degree by the music that they listened to as teens. My mom had Elvis. 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And if we don't have enough poverty at home, we'll import it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-democrats-need-poor-dependent-people-if-they-re-gonna-stay-in/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Hillary certainly needs the black vote, and Democrats need it. She's not doing anything too soon; she's raising her money and not wanting any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-pinckney/hillary-certainly-needs-the-black-vote-and-democrats-need-it-she-s/) [Darryl Pinckney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-pinckney/) ## More by Cory Booker > [We've got to get back to a country that can get things done. And my whole career has been marching and charging at and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/we-ve-got-to-get-back-to-a-country-that-can-get-things-done-and-my/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [If you want the things people don't have, you have to do the things other people will not do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/if-you-want-the-things-people-don-t-have-you-have-to-do-the-things/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [“Deterrents properly placed can help. But that is not enough. We are one society, and as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/deterrents-properly-placed-can-help-but-that-is-not-enough-we-are-one/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [Speaking as somebody who voted against TPA and has a lot of suspicions about Trans Pacific Partnership that are reflected in our concerns about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/speaking-as-somebody-who-voted-against-tpa-and-has-a-lot-of/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [ I love talking about the challenges \[Newark, NJ\] has because of the way they are always brilliantly disguised as opportunities.. .the biggest global challenge… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/i-love-talking-about-the-challenges-newark-nj-has-because-of-the-way/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [If Donald Trump governs the way he campaigned, it'll be a disastrous presidency. This is a chance for him to be magnanimous, humble. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/if-donald-trump-governs-the-way-he-campaigned-it-ll-be-a-disastrous/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [To me, feminism is believing in women's equality, and I ardently ascribe to that belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/to-me-feminism-is-believing-in-women-s-equality-and-i-ardently/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [I live in Brick Towers, a public housing project in Newark's Central Ward. I moved in when the projects were privately owned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/i-live-in-brick-towers-a-public-housing-project-in-newark-s-central/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [“I celebrate ideals of individual excellence, self-reliance, and personal responsibility… But rugged individualism alone did not get us to the moon. 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That's really what life is about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/can-you-every-single-day-tell-a-true-testimony-of-who-you-are-that-s/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [2016 is an election like I've never seen before. And I think it reflects the fact that many people have a dissatisfaction with politics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/2016-is-an-election-like-i-ve-never-seen-before-and-i-think-it/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [I do not believe that marijuana is a gateway drug, and having been a mayor trying to keep my community safe, if there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/i-do-not-believe-that-marijuana-is-a-gateway-drug-and-having-been-a/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [Any Democrat running is trying to get that Barack Obama coalition, which is an increasingly diverse voter base. It's young folks. 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