--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy is a system that gives people a…" description: "\"Democracy is a system that gives people a chance to elect rascals of their own choice.\" — Doug Larson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a0/doug-larson-9077_chance_democracy-is-a-system-that-gives-people_324355.png" --- # Democracy is a system that gives people a chance to elect… ![“Democracy is a system that gives people a chance to elect rascals of their own choice.” quote by Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a0/doug-larson-9077_chance_democracy-is-a-system-that-gives-people_324355.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a0/doug-larson-9077_chance_democracy-is-a-system-that-gives-people_324355.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a0/doug-larson-9077_chance_democracy-is-a-system-that-gives-people_324355.png) > “Democracy is a system that gives people a chance to elect rascals of their own choice.” [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy lets voters choose even the worst leaders. **In simple terms:** Democracy can elect poor leaders. Key Takeaway Stay vigilant in elections. Themes politics democracy choice Mood cautionary analytical Type advice observation When to use this quote - elections - civic engagement - policy debates - media consumption Key Concepts voter responsibility political cynicism Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens improve political literacy? - What safeguards can reduce electing unfit leaders? A Different Perspective Not all voters are fully informed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Chance Elect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance-elect-3049528/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Gives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-gives-932843/) [Elect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elect/) [Elect Rascals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elect-rascals-3049527/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rascals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rascals/) [Rascals Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rascals-choice-3049529/) ## Related quotes > [I do believe Hong Kong's 5 million eligible voters want the chance to elect their chief executive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-lam/i-do-believe-hong-kong-s-5-million-eligible-voters-want-the-chance-to/) [Carrie Lam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-lam/) > [I understand democracy as something that gives the weak the same chance as the strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-understand-democracy-as-something-that-gives-the-weak-the-same/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [No government demands so much from the citizens as democracy and none gives back so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryce/no-government-demands-so-much-from-the-citizens-as-democracy-and-none/) [James Bryce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryce/) > [Inequality also distorts our democracy. It gives an outsized voice to the few who can afford high-priced lobbyists and unlimited campaign contributions, and runs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/inequality-also-distorts-our-democracy-it-gives-an-outsized-voice-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [When threatened, the first thing a democracy gives up is democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/when-threatened-the-first-thing-a-democracy-gives-up-is-democracy/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [The great thing about democracy is that it gives every voter a chance to do something stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-spander/the-great-thing-about-democracy-is-that-it-gives-every-voter-a-chance/) [Art Spander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-spander/) > [Democracy gives you the freedom to choose who just prefer to have their abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/democracy-gives-you-the-freedom-to-choose-who-just-prefer-to-have/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Democracy gives the aura of legitimacy to acts that would otherwise be considered tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/democracy-gives-the-aura-of-legitimacy-to-acts-that-would-otherwise/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [“Parker Palmer puts it, “Democracy gives us the right to disagree and is designed to use the energy of creative conflict to drive positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fea/parker-palmer-puts-it-democracy-gives-us-the-right-to-disagree-and-is/) [John Fea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fea/) > [Democracy gives every man the right to be his own oppressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/democracy-gives-every-man-the-right-to-be-his-own-oppressor/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [“In the end, democracy gives us popular and handsome men, not geniuses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/in-the-end-democracy-gives-us-popular-and-handsome-men-not-geniuses/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [In order to become a great man, one must first be a great rascal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/in-order-to-become-a-great-man-one-must-first-be-a-great-rascal/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The Jews belong to a dark and repulsive force. One knows how numerous this clique is, how they stick together and what power they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-jews-belong-to-a-dark-and-repulsive-force-one-knows-how-numerous/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [In a democracy you cannot stop public access to that art that will most misinform the people. You cannot stop people from being misinformed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/in-a-democracy-you-cannot-stop-public-access-to-that-art-that-will/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) ## More by Doug Larson > [A true friend is the one who overlooks your failures and tolerates your success!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/a-true-friend-is-the-one-who-overlooks-your-failures-and-tolerates/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Sometimes opportunity knocks, but most of the time it sneaks up and then quietly steals away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/sometimes-opportunity-knocks-but-most-of-the-time-it-sneaks-up-and/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Wisdom is the quality that keeps you from getting into situations where you need it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/wisdom-is-the-quality-that-keeps-you-from-getting-into-situations/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Heredity is a splendid phenomenon that relieves us of responsibility for our shortcomings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/heredity-is-a-splendid-phenomenon-that-relieves-us-of-responsibility/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Autumn is a season followed immediately by looking forward to spring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/autumn-is-a-season-followed-immediately-by-looking-forward-to-spring/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [An alibi is a reason with a bad reputation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/an-alibi-is-a-reason-with-a-bad-reputation/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Law of Airlines: The shorter the time between flights, the greater the distance between gates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/law-of-airlines-the-shorter-the-time-between-flights-the-greater-the/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Utility is when you have one telephone, luxury is when you have two, and paradise is when you have none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/utility-is-when-you-have-one-telephone-luxury-is-when-you-have-two/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/instead-of-giving-a-politician-the-keys-to-the-city-it-might-be/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Accomplishing the impossible means only the boss will add it to your regular duties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/accomplishing-the-impossible-means-only-the-boss-will-add-it-to-your/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [If the English language made any sense, lackadaisical would have something to do with a shortage of flowers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/if-the-english-language-made-any-sense-lackadaisical-would-have/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/a-weed-is-a-plant-that-has-mastered-every-survival-skill-except-for/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/wisdom-is-the-reward-you-get-for-a-lifetime-of-listening-when-you-d/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Nostalgia: A device that removes the ruts and potholes from memory lane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/nostalgia-a-device-that-removes-the-ruts-and-potholes-from-memory-lane/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [It took only 50 years for movies to go from silent to unspeakable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/it-took-only-50-years-for-movies-to-go-from-silent-to-unspeakable/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) [Explore all 75 Doug Larson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) ## 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With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I have heard that if you pull a bent breath through the second hole of a harmonica tuned to the key of Georgia while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/i-have-heard-that-if-you-pull-a-bent-breath-through-the-second-hole/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [Love changes people, for better or for worse. You could look at it as a chance for you to change. The best kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-changes-people-for-better-or-for-worse-you-could-look-at-it-as-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's not who, it's when”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-taubas/it-s-not-who-it-s-when/) [Alejandro Taubas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-taubas/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. 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