--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy -- rule by the people -- sounds…" description: "\"Democracy -- rule by the people -- sounds like a fine thing; we should try it sometime in America.\" — Edward Abbey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/edward-abbey-254_america_democracy-rule-by-the-people-sounds-like_151874.png" --- # Democracy -- rule by the people -- sounds like a fine… ![“Democracy -- rule by the people -- sounds like a fine thing; we should try it sometime in America.” quote by Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/edward-abbey-254_america_democracy-rule-by-the-people-sounds-like_151874.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/edward-abbey-254_america_democracy-rule-by-the-people-sounds-like_151874.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/edward-abbey-254_america_democracy-rule-by-the-people-sounds-like_151874.png) > “Democracy -- rule by the people -- sounds like a fine thing; we should try it sometime in America.” [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy, defined as rule by the people, sounds ideal but is rarely tried in America. **In simple terms:** Democracy seems ideal yet is seldom practiced in the U.S. Key Takeaway Advocate for broader democratic participation. Themes democracy politics idealism citizenship America Mood critical hopeful Type philosophical political When to use this quote - voting reforms - community assemblies - public deliberations - civic education Key Concepts political theory civic engagement historical context Questions to Reflect On - What barriers hinder true democratic practice? - How can citizens overcome them? A Different Perspective Implementation faces entrenched power structures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Fine things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine-things/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) ## Related quotes > [You can't do a fine thing without having seen fine examples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-morris-hunt/you-can-t-do-a-fine-thing-without-having-seen-fine-examples/) [William Morris Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-morris-hunt/) > [I can't make head or tail of Life. 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An old wino's disease, which could lay me in the grave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/me-i-m-living-under-a-sword-too-as-jack-may-have-told-you-an-old-wino/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [“Look here, I want to say, for godsake folks get out of them there machines, take off those fucking sunglasses and unpeel both eyeballs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/look-here-i-want-to-say-for-godsake-folks-get-out-of-them-there/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Reason has seldom failed us because it has seldom been tried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/reason-has-seldom-failed-us-because-it-has-seldom-been-tried/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [“What is the essence of the art of writing? Part One: Have something to say. Part Two: Say it well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/what-is-the-essence-of-the-art-of-writing-part-one-have-something-to/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) [Explore all 807 Edward Abbey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... 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