--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy requires you to learn how to…" description: "\"Democracy requires you to learn how to lose as well as how to exercise power when you win. And that requires restraint all around. One of the reasons i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/david-frum-3455_democracy_democracy-requires-you-to-learn-how-to-l_2493869.jpg" --- # Democracy requires you to learn how to lose as well as how… ![“Democracy requires you to learn how to lose as well as how to exercise power when you win. And that requires restraint all around. One of the reasons it works is because when you win you don't do things that are so upsetting to the losers that they feel like they have less, they have more to gain…” quote by David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/david-frum-3455_democracy_democracy-requires-you-to-learn-how-to-l_2493869.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/david-frum-3455_democracy_democracy-requires-you-to-learn-how-to-l_2493869.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/david-frum-3455_democracy_democracy-requires-you-to-learn-how-to-l_2493869.jpg) > “Democracy requires you to learn how to lose as well as how to exercise power when you win. And that requires restraint all around. One of the reasons it works is because when you win you don't do things that are so upsetting to the losers that they feel like they have less, they have more to gain by turning over the system.” [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy works when winners show restraint and treat losers fairly, preventing backlash and preserving the system. **In simple terms:** Democracy needs both winning and losing gracefully. Key Takeaway Practice humility in victory. Themes democracy restraint political stability fairness Mood thoughtful balanced Type political ethical When to use this quote - elections - legislative negotiations - policy implementation - public debates Key Concepts social contract power dynamics conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders model restraint after electoral wins? - What mechanisms ensure losers feel respected? A Different Perspective If winners ignore losers, resentment can destabilize governance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Loser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loser/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Restraint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restraint/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [Many people think in terms of either/or: either you're nice or you're tough. Win-win requires that you be both. It is a balancing act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/many-people-think-in-terms-of-either-or-either-you-re-nice-or-you-re/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [You had to come back to learn how to lose yourself, to be pilot and stray-witch, Hansel and Gretel in one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seamus-heaney/you-had-to-come-back-to-learn-how-to-lose-yourself-to-be-pilot-and/) [Seamus Heaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seamus-heaney/) > [“When we lose the world, we find ourselves. When we lose ourselves, we find God. When we lose God, we find liberation.The trick is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-n-prasher/when-we-lose-the-world-we-find-ourselves-when-we-lose-ourselves-we/) [R. N. Prasher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-n-prasher/) > [When you have four daughters, you learn to lose early and often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-weinstein/when-you-have-four-daughters-you-learn-to-lose-early-and-often/) [Harvey Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-weinstein/) > [We always try to correct what we did wrong; you can always learn something when you lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-godin/we-always-try-to-correct-what-we-did-wrong-you-can-always-learn/) [Diego Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-godin/) > [You win a fight, you learn from it. You lose a fight, you learn from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uriah-hall/you-win-a-fight-you-learn-from-it-you-lose-a-fight-you-learn-from-it/) [Uriah Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uriah-hall/) > [“If you can't win, don't join them; learn how to lose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-kelly/if-you-can-t-win-don-t-join-them-learn-how-to-lose/) [Walt Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-kelly/) > [You can't win unless you learn how to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/you-can-t-win-unless-you-learn-how-to-lose/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [People say you learn when you lose, but why do I have to learn only when I lose? The mistakes are always there, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-burns/people-say-you-learn-when-you-lose-but-why-do-i-have-to-learn-only/) [Gilbert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-burns/) > [Some people learn to lose. Others lose and learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/some-people-learn-to-lose-others-lose-and-learn/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [You can always learn when you lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-wawrinka/you-can-always-learn-when-you-lose/) [Stan Wawrinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-wawrinka/) > [“Learn to lose your destiny to find where it leads you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munia-khan/learn-to-lose-your-destiny-to-find-where-it-leads-you/) [Munia Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munia-khan/) > [I think what I have learned is you can't avoid losing. You're going to strike out a million times. The whole point is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gethard/i-think-what-i-have-learned-is-you-can-t-avoid-losing-you-re-going-to/) [Chris Gethard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gethard/) > [Not all of the games you will win, you're there to learn more when you're lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/not-all-of-the-games-you-will-win-you-re-there-to-learn-more-when-you/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [“Learn to Lose, Wade to Win.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn/learn-to-lose-wade-to-win/) Vikrmn ## More by David Frum > [While there is an attempt by the Trump people to say that California isn't really America. California certainly seems like America to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/while-there-is-an-attempt-by-the-trump-people-to-say-that-california/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [I always believed as a speechwriter that if you could persuade the president to commit himself to certain words, he would feel himself committed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/i-always-believed-as-a-speechwriter-that-if-you-could-persuade-the/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [One of the things we're all going to have to discover, establishment is just an abusive term for institutions. It's institutions that keep us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/one-of-the-things-we-re-all-going-to-have-to-discover-establishment/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [One of the things that really has gone wrong in modern politics, one of the things that made Trump possible was that many people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/one-of-the-things-that-really-has-gone-wrong-in-modern-politics-one/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [People who want to wage cultural wars ought to keep in mind that cultural views often don't move at all for a very long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/people-who-want-to-wage-cultural-wars-ought-to-keep-in-mind-that/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [A generation ago, or two, when there were three channels, plus PBS, and when you needed - when you needed 15 million people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/a-generation-ago-or-two-when-there-were-three-channels-plus-pbs-and/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [Trump is not just unlike a Republican, he's unlike a presidential candidate. The whole elaborate presidential process is designed to screen out people like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/trump-is-not-just-unlike-a-republican-he-s-unlike-a-presidential/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [More Irishmen died fighting for Britain in World War I than died fighting against her in all of Ireland's bids for independence combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/more-irishmen-died-fighting-for-britain-in-world-war-i-than-died/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [Donald Trump, as a businessman, he's not much of a builder and he's not much of dealmaker and he certainly isn't very good at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/donald-trump-as-a-businessman-he-s-not-much-of-a-builder-and-he-s-not/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [The system we have is one that protects my rights under a president I don't approve. That tomorrow we'll do the same for you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/the-system-we-have-is-one-that-protects-my-rights-under-a-president-i/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [ \[democrats\] hated Richard Nixon, and no wonder. It was Nixon who sent Alger Hiss to jail, and Nixon who waged the Vietnam War after… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/democrats-hated-richard-nixon-and-no-wonder-it-was-nixon-who-sent/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [Crown Prince Rupprecht, the heir to the throne of Bavaria who commanded the army group facing the British at the Somme, was the senior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/crown-prince-rupprecht-the-heir-to-the-throne-of-bavaria-who/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [Partly because of the desperate economic situation in the country, what were once the leading institutions of conservatism are constrained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/partly-because-of-the-desperate-economic-situation-in-the-country/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [ \[In politics,\] when there is no reason to speak, there is a reason not to speak. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/in-politics-when-there-is-no-reason-to-speak-there-is-a-reason-not-to/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [Look, the media are trapped by changes in the technology and business of their industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/look-the-media-are-trapped-by-changes-in-the-technology-and-business/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) [Explore all 130 David Frum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) ## 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 requires you to learn how to lose as well as how to exercise power when you win. 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