--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know, this idea of going around the…" description: "\"You know, this idea of going around the world imposing democracy by growing a middle-class, a trading merchant class that is independent of your faith,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/damian-lewis-3773_around-the-world_you-know-this-idea-of-going-around-the-w_1735976.png" --- # You know, this idea of going around the world imposing… ![“You know, this idea of going around the world imposing democracy by growing a middle-class, a trading merchant class that is independent of your faith, is a good notion, but we're all partially different - it's no good imposing systems on people that it doesn't suit.” quote by Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/damian-lewis-3773_around-the-world_you-know-this-idea-of-going-around-the-w_1735976.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/damian-lewis-3773_around-the-world_you-know-this-idea-of-going-around-the-w_1735976.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/damian-lewis-3773_around-the-world_you-know-this-idea-of-going-around-the-w_1735976.png) > “You know, this idea of going around the world imposing democracy by growing a middle-class, a trading merchant class that is independent of your faith, is a good notion, but we're all partially different - it's no good imposing systems on people that it doesn't suit.” [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Imposing democracy without respecting local diversity often fails; systems must fit cultural contexts. **In simple terms:** Democracy should match local cultures. Key Takeaway Tailor policies to local values. Themes politics culture democracy Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - foreign aid projects - policy drafting - NGO work Key Concepts local autonomy economic development Questions to Reflect On - Can a middle class emerge without external influence? - How to balance universal rights with cultural specificity? A Different Perspective Uniform solutions ignore unique societal needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Around the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Middle class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-class/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Trading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trading/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I'm for democracy, but imposing democracy is an oxymoron. People have to choose democracy, and it has to come up from below.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-m-for-democracy-but-imposing-democracy-is-an-oxymoron-people-have/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Imposing democracy through force is a roll of the dice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-hagel/imposing-democracy-through-force-is-a-roll-of-the-dice/) [Chuck Hagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-hagel/) > [Animosity towards the merchant class has been around for centuries. Why? The goal of making a profit is quite obviously a self-serving motive. Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/animosity-towards-the-merchant-class-has-been-around-for-centuries/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [I do think one success of Northern Europe, which the United States came from, was its willingness to accept innovation in business practices like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-d-watson/i-do-think-one-success-of-northern-europe-which-the-united-states/) [James D. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-d-watson/) > [Virtue looks good but it only suits imposing figures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-wedekind/virtue-looks-good-but-it-only-suits-imposing-figures/) [Frank Wedekind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-wedekind/) > [...and every Wednesday the perfumed young lady slips me a hundred-crown note to leave her alone with the convict. And by Thursday the hundred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/and-every-wednesday-the-perfumed-young-lady-slips-me-a-hundred-crown/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [Communism worked honestly by officials devoid of human frailties and devoted to nothing but the good of its slaves, would have certain manifest material…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/communism-worked-honestly-by-officials-devoid-of-human-frailties-and/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [The United States is imposing sanctions on individuals and companies working to advance Iran's ballistic missile program, and we are going to remain vigilant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-united-states-is-imposing-sanctions-on-individuals-and-companies/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I'm fortunate to be famous for two rather imposing characters like Magneto and Gandalf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-m-fortunate-to-be-famous-for-two-rather-imposing-characters-like/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [But I'm very libertarian in the sense that I believe in small government and, as a general rule, I don't believe in imposing values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/but-i-m-very-libertarian-in-the-sense-that-i-believe-in-small/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [Prayer is not a convenient device for imposing our will upon God, or bending his will to ours, but the prescribed way of subordinating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/prayer-is-not-a-convenient-device-for-imposing-our-will-upon-god-or/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [What one thing does the world need most today-apart, that is, from the all-inclusive thing we call righteousness? Aren't you inclined to agree that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/what-one-thing-does-the-world-need-most-today-apart-that-is-from-the/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [It is also plausible that those movements with the greatest inner contradiction and between profession and practice - that is to say with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/it-is-also-plausible-that-those-movements-with-the-greatest-inner/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The longer I live, the more it grieves me to see man, who occupies his supreme place for the very purpose of imposing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-longer-i-live-the-more-it-grieves-me-to-see-man-who-occupies-his/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) ## More by Damian Lewis > [The best shows succeed because they tap into a national conversation,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/the-best-shows-succeed-because-they-tap-into-a-national-conversation/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [People need revelation, and then they need resolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/people-need-revelation-and-then-they-need-resolution/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [ I always resented Tom \[Hardy\] for turning up on Band Of Brothers and getting the girl — in fact, the only girl in a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/i-always-resented-tom-hardy-for-turning-up-on-band-of-brothers-and/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [We had a good time mucking about during 'Band of Brothers' when we were young and single.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/we-had-a-good-time-mucking-about-during-band-of-brothers-when-we-were/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [That's all you can do as an actor - take the best thing available.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/that-s-all-you-can-do-as-an-actor-take-the-best-thing-available/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [None of us, remember, knew that 9/11 was gonna happen. We didn't live in a state of anxiety and fear about Osama Bin Laden.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/none-of-us-remember-knew-that-9-11-was-gonna-happen-we-didn-t-live-in/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [Television audiences are ruthless - look what happened to 'The Killing.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/television-audiences-are-ruthless-look-what-happened-to-the-killing/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [I've always had a 'Work hard, play hard' attitude to life - I still do - but sometimes you get involved in something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/i-ve-always-had-a-work-hard-play-hard-attitude-to-life-i-still-do-but/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [If you only do issue-based drama, you can become a boring wanker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/if-you-only-do-issue-based-drama-you-can-become-a-boring-wanker/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [A lot of these American actors have this - in my view - misplaced view that they have to look like Action Man. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/a-lot-of-these-american-actors-have-this-in-my-view-misplaced-view/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [Would I have traded 'Homeland' for anything else? No. Would I trade 'Billions' for anything else? No.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/would-i-have-traded-homeland-for-anything-else-no-would-i-trade/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [There are ways of avoiding becoming tabloid fodder and therefore giving people license to pry into your private life. And there's a distinction between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/there-are-ways-of-avoiding-becoming-tabloid-fodder-and-therefore/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [It was pretty daunting. Normally, I never go to a gym, but before we started shooting, I thought I'd better. I reckoned I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/it-was-pretty-daunting-normally-i-never-go-to-a-gym-but-before-we/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [I'm not good enough to flip in and out of my Brit accent to my American accent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/i-m-not-good-enough-to-flip-in-and-out-of-my-brit-accent-to-my/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [I'm not averse to telling people off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/i-m-not-averse-to-telling-people-off/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) [Explore all 122 Damian Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) ## More Around the world quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It's difficult to believe in yourself because the idea of self is an artificial construction. You are, in fact, part of the glorious oneness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/it-s-difficult-to-believe-in-yourself-because-the-idea-of-self-is-an/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [We know the candidate Barack Obama, what he was like - the anti-war government nig... America was a source for division around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-know-the-candidate-barack-obama-what-he-was-like-the-anti-war/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [Since 'coming out,' I've marched in gay pride parades all around the world, I've filled my home full of rainbow tat and I've become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/since-coming-out-i-ve-marched-in-gay-pride-parades-all-around-the/) [Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/) > [Once, as an experiment, I travelled around the world with a single suit. Before I left, I went to a tailor in Savile Row…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/once-as-an-experiment-i-travelled-around-the-world-with-a-single-suit/) [George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) > [I look at what's happening around the world and I see Iran four years closer to a bomb. I see the Middle East with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-look-at-what-s-happening-around-the-world-and-i-see-iran-four-years/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [“The low point occurred in July, during Romney’s junior week abroad, in which the press became increasingly frustrated over Romney’s refusal to talk to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/the-low-point-occurred-in-july-during-romney-s-junior-week-abroad-in/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [I believe there definitely are good things about social networking. It's a way for people to connect all around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-velasquez/i-believe-there-definitely-are-good-things-about-social-networking-it/) [Lizzie Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-velasquez/) > [“Isn’t everyone on the planet or at least everyone on the planet called me stuck between the two impulses of wanting to walk away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/isn-t-everyone-on-the-planet-or-at-least-everyone-on-the-planet/) [Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/) > [You always can improve and I think that's the beauty of international cricket, particularly test cricket, is playing all around the world against different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane-williamson/you-always-can-improve-and-i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-international/) [Kane Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane-williamson/) > [Trump is reviled around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-reid/trump-is-reviled-around-the-world/) [Joy Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-reid/) [Browse all 3,349 Around the world quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know, this idea of going around the world imposing democracy by growing a middle-class, a trading merchant class that is independent of your faith, is a good notion, but we're all partially different - it's no good imposing systems on people that it doesn't suit.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Damian Lewis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/you-know-this-idea-of-going-around-the-world-imposing-democracy-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Around the world" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/you-know-this-idea-of-going-around-the-world-imposing-democracy-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/damian-lewis-3773_around-the-world_you-know-this-idea-of-going-around-the-w_1735976.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/damian-lewis-3773_around-the-world_you-know-this-idea-of-going-around-the-w_1735976.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/damian-lewis-3773_around-the-world_you-know-this-idea-of-going-around-the-w_1735976.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You know, this idea of going around the world imposing democracy by growing a middle-class, a trading…” — Damian Lewis", "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": "Damian Lewis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You know, this idea of going...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/you-know-this-idea-of-going-around-the-world-imposing-democracy-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/you-know-this-idea-of-going-around-the-world-imposing-democracy-by/#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 } } ] } ```