--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy is necessitated by the fact…" description: "\"Democracy is necessitated by the fact that all men are sinners; it is made possible by the fact that we know it. ...\" — D. Elton Trueblood" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/d-elton-trueblood-26225_democracy_democracy-is-necessitated-by-the-fact-th_773159.png" --- # Democracy is necessitated by the fact that all men are… ![“Democracy is necessitated by the fact that all men are sinners; it is made possible by the fact that we know it. ...” quote by D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/d-elton-trueblood-26225_democracy_democracy-is-necessitated-by-the-fact-th_773159.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/d-elton-trueblood-26225_democracy_democracy-is-necessitated-by-the-fact-th_773159.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ce/d-elton-trueblood-26225_democracy_democracy-is-necessitated-by-the-fact-th_773159.png) > “Democracy is necessitated by the fact that all men are sinners; it is made possible by the fact that we know it. ...” [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy relies on human sinfulness and our awareness of it, making collective governance necessary and possible. **In simple terms:** Democracy needs sin and awareness. Key Takeaway Recognize flaws, support shared rule. Themes politics human nature governance Mood reflective serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - national elections - community decision making - ethical leadership Key Concepts sin collective responsibility knowledge Questions to Reflect On - How does awareness of imperfection shape political systems? - What safeguards ensure democracy remains effective? A Different Perspective Democracy can be undermined by apathy or misinformation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [Since man's natural instincts lead him to sin, all men are sinners; and all sinners go to hell. If everyone goes to hell, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/since-man-s-natural-instincts-lead-him-to-sin-all-men-are-sinners-and/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [“Since man's natural instincts lead him to sin, all men are sinners; and all sinners go to hell. If everyone goes to hell, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/since-man-s-natural-instincts-lead-him-to-sin-all-men-are-sinners-and-2/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [The more we study the early Church, the more we realize that it was a society of ministers. About the only similarity between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/the-more-we-study-the-early-church-the-more-we-realize-that-it-was-a/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [Sin is the second most powerful force in the universe, for it sent Jesus to the cross. Only one force is greater-the love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/sin-is-the-second-most-powerful-force-in-the-universe-for-it-sent/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [What is sin? It is the glory of God not honored. The holiness of God not reverenced. The greatness of God not admired. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/what-is-sin-it-is-the-glory-of-god-not-honored-the-holiness-of-god/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“There is salvation for every soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/there-is-salvation-for-every-soul/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Pain is the outcome of sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/pain-is-the-outcome-of-sin/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Sin is like a journey, it begins with one step.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-smith/sin-is-like-a-journey-it-begins-with-one-step/) [Al Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-smith/) > [Hate the sin but not the sinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hate-the-sin-but-not-the-sinner/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Jesus never met a disease he could not cure, a birth defect he could not reverse, a demon he could not exorcise. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-never-met-a-disease-he-could-not-cure-a-birth-defect-he-could/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [A love to Christ which is so cowardly and selfish that it is unwilling to proclaim by a public confession its faith in Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbott-eliot-kittredge/a-love-to-christ-which-is-so-cowardly-and-selfish-that-it-is/) [Abbott Eliot Kittredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbott-eliot-kittredge/) > [Christ came to bring healing to those who are spiritually sick-you say that you are perfectly well, so you must go your own way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/christ-came-to-bring-healing-to-those-who-are-spiritually-sick-you/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Curiously, the righteous Pharisees had little historical impact, save for a brief time in a remote corner of the Roman Empire. But Jesus' disciples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/curiously-the-righteous-pharisees-had-little-historical-impact-save/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [My prayer to the Lord every day, is this-I have been a great sinner. I do not deserve Heaven. Let me stay here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andres-segovia/my-prayer-to-the-lord-every-day-is-this-i-have-been-a-great-sinner-i/) [Andres Segovia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andres-segovia/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) ## More by D. Elton Trueblood > [One of the noblest words in our language is "grace," defined as "unearned blessing." We live by grace far more than by anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/one-of-the-noblest-words-in-our-language-is-grace-defined-as-unearned/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [The more we study the early Church, the more we realize that it was a society of ministers. About the only similarity between the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/the-more-we-study-the-early-church-the-more-we-realize-that-it-was-a/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [The Christian is joyful, not because he is blind to injustice and suffering, but because he is convinced that these, in the light of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/the-christian-is-joyful-not-because-he-is-blind-to-injustice-and/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [It takes a noble man to plant a seed for a tree that will someday give shade to people he may never meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/it-takes-a-noble-man-to-plant-a-seed-for-a-tree-that-will-someday/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [Our religion is one which challenges the ordinary human standards by holding that the ideal of life is the spirit of a little child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/our-religion-is-one-which-challenges-the-ordinary-human-standards-by/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [At the profoundest depths in life, men talk not about God but with Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/at-the-profoundest-depths-in-life-men-talk-not-about-god-but-with-him/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [If the average church should suddenly take seriously the notion that every lay member man or woman is really a minister of Christ, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/if-the-average-church-should-suddenly-take-seriously-the-notion-that/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [This historic Christian doctrine of the divinity of Christ does not simply mean that Jesus is like God. It is far more radical than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/this-historic-christian-doctrine-of-the-divinity-of-christ-does-not/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [The ultimate verification of our religion consists of the changed lives to which it can point and for which it is responsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/the-ultimate-verification-of-our-religion-consists-of-the-changed/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [The world is equally shocked at hearing Christianity criticized and seeing it practiced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/the-world-is-equally-shocked-at-hearing-christianity-criticized-and/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [We need to be agnostics first and then there is some chance at arriving at a sensible system of belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/we-need-to-be-agnostics-first-and-then-there-is-some-chance-at/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/a-man-has-made-at-least-a-start-on-discovering-the-meaning-of-human/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [No vital Christianity is possible unless at least three aspects of it are developed. These are the inner life of devotion, the outer life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/no-vital-christianity-is-possible-unless-at-least-three-aspects-of-it/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/faith-is-not-belief-without-proof-but-trust-without-reservation/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [The only way to happiness is never to give happiness a thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/the-only-way-to-happiness-is-never-to-give-happiness-a-thought/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) [Explore all 22 D. Elton Trueblood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) ## 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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