--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The real strength of democracy is that…" description: "\"The real strength of democracy is that anyone who is not specifically against it must ultimately be for it, while communism suffers from the great tact..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fa/edwin-o-reischauer-77819_communism_the-real-strength-of-democracy-is-that-a_429041.jpg" --- # The real strength of democracy is that anyone who is not… ![“The real strength of democracy is that anyone who is not specifically against it must ultimately be for it, while communism suffers from the great tactical liability that anyone who is not specifically for it is eventually forced to oppose it.” quote by Edwin O. Reischauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fa/edwin-o-reischauer-77819_communism_the-real-strength-of-democracy-is-that-a_429041.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fa/edwin-o-reischauer-77819_communism_the-real-strength-of-democracy-is-that-a_429041.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fa/edwin-o-reischauer-77819_communism_the-real-strength-of-democracy-is-that-a_429041.jpg) > “The real strength of democracy is that anyone who is not specifically against it must ultimately be for it, while communism suffers from the great tactical liability that anyone who is not specifically for it is eventually forced to oppose it.” Edwin O. Reischauer ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy thrives because opposition is limited, whereas communism faces internal contradictions that force dissent. **In simple terms:** Democracy tolerates dissent; communism struggles with it. Key Takeaway Recognize strengths and flaws of each system. Themes politics ideology democracy communism opposition Mood analytical critical Type theoretical educational When to use this quote - government policy - academic debate - public discourse - international relations Key Concepts political theory systemic stability strategic liability Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms keep democracy healthy? - How can societies mitigate ideological rigidity? A Different Perspective Communist regimes can suppress dissent, but may also face hidden resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communism/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Real strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-strength/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [For it was only after I could become President of this country that I could really see in all its hopeful and troubling implications…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/for-it-was-only-after-i-could-become-president-of-this-country-that-i/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [A son of a poor man is standing in front of you today. This is the strength of a democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/a-son-of-a-poor-man-is-standing-in-front-of-you-today-this-is-the/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Athletes have the same rights everybody else does. If there is a strength in our democracy, it's that we are encouraged to exercise those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-van-gundy/athletes-have-the-same-rights-everybody-else-does-if-there-is-a/) [Stan Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-van-gundy/) > [It is not the armed forces which can protect our democracy. It is the moral strength of democracy which alone can give any meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lerner/it-is-not-the-armed-forces-which-can-protect-our-democracy-it-is-the/) [Max Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lerner/) > [I always say the strength of democracy lies in criticism. If there is no criticism, that means there is no democracy. And if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/i-always-say-the-strength-of-democracy-lies-in-criticism-if-there-is/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Democracy is our commitment. It is our great legacy, a legacy we simply cannot compromise. Democracy is in our DNA. I have seen the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/democracy-is-our-commitment-it-is-our-great-legacy-a-legacy-we-simply/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [America's greatness rests on far more than the power of our arms. Our greatness is also measured by our goodness, it's in the capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/america-s-greatness-rests-on-far-more-than-the-power-of-our-arms-our/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [Our strength as a democracy relies on voter confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaal-bowman/our-strength-as-a-democracy-relies-on-voter-confidence/) [Jamaal Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaal-bowman/) > [The strength of every democracy is measured by its commitment to the arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-segars/the-strength-of-every-democracy-is-measured-by-its-commitment-to-the/) Charles Segars > [“Your Real Strength comes from being the best You can be”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kungfu-panda/your-real-strength-comes-from-being-the-best-you-can-be/) KungFu Panda > [I'm very much for helping create women who are going to be successful women. I don't like women who imitate men, who want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-dally-watkins/i-m-very-much-for-helping-create-women-who-are-going-to-be-successful/) June Dally-Watkins > [Real strength has to do with helping others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/real-strength-has-to-do-with-helping-others/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [When terrorists attacked the symbols of our national unity and strength, they failed to realize that they were just symbols of our strength. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-enzi/when-terrorists-attacked-the-symbols-of-our-national-unity-and/) [Michael Enzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-enzi/) > [You can always take the easy way out and give up, but real strength comes when you decide to keep pushing forward no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-rose/you-can-always-take-the-easy-way-out-and-give-up-but-real-strength/) [Whitney Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-rose/) > [real strength is not hitting when what you most want to do is kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/real-strength-is-not-hitting-when-what-you-most-want-to-do-is-kill/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) ## More by Edwin O. Reischauer > [Hangeul is perhaps the most scientific system of writing in general use in any country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-o-reischauer/hangeul-is-perhaps-the-most-scientific-system-of-writing-in-general/) Edwin O. Reischauer > [Absolutely delightful, at first for its unspoiled picture of late-nineteenth-century Japan as seen through the eyes of three remarkable but very different Americans, \[the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-o-reischauer/absolutely-delightful-at-first-for-its-unspoiled-picture-of-late/) Edwin O. Reischauer Explore all 3 Edwin O. Reischauer quotes ## More Communism quotes > [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/) > [I didn't understand Southland Tales script at all! Is there a single word to describe it? Cacophony? It's celebrity meets pornography meets politics -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-grant/i-didn-t-understand-southland-tales-script-at-all-is-there-a-single/) [Beth Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-grant/) > [It is popular to call it a crisis of the Western world. It is in fact a crisis of the whole world. Communism, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whittaker-chambers/it-is-popular-to-call-it-a-crisis-of-the-western-world-it-is-in-fact/) [Whittaker Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whittaker-chambers/) > [“Despite Soviet 'defeat' in 1991, the ideas associated with Communism remain shockingly reputable throughout what we still know as the Free World.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-west/despite-soviet-defeat-in-1991-the-ideas-associated-with-communism/) Diana West > [Capitalism, communism ... it's all garbage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mstislav-rostropovich/capitalism-communism-it-s-all-garbage/) [Mstislav Rostropovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mstislav-rostropovich/) > [Communism... is the genuine resolution of the antagonism between man and nature and between man and man; it is the true resolution of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/communism-is-the-genuine-resolution-of-the-antagonism-between-man-and/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [“Occult Theft,--Theft which hides itself even from itself, and is legal, respectable, and cowardly,--corrupts the body and soul of man, to the last fibre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/occult-theft-theft-which-hides-itself-even-from-itself-and-is-legal/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Motherland is our property and we have right to handle our properties as pleased. The jokes about death for the sake of the motherland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/motherland-is-our-property-and-we-have-right-to-handle-our-properties/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“Socialists and Progressives confuse compassion and compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-samaan/socialists-and-progressives-confuse-compassion-and-compulsion/) [A.E. Samaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-e-samaan/) > [Your best friends are your principles, if you havent them, dont look for another friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/your-best-friends-are-your-principles-if-you-havent-them-dont-look/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [If I paint a hammer and sickle people may think it is a representation of Communism, but for me it is only a hammer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/if-i-paint-a-hammer-and-sickle-people-may-think-it-is-a/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Our power does not know liberty or justice. It is established on the destruction of the individual will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/our-power-does-not-know-liberty-or-justice-it-is-established-on-the/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [A strong saying is not afraid of criticism, because it includes all the answers to criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/a-strong-saying-is-not-afraid-of-criticism-because-it-includes-all/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [I think it's sort of the hypothetical point where communism and fascism meet. They love tragedy, and they love surface beauty. You just watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-forrest/i-think-it-s-sort-of-the-hypothetical-point-where-communism-and/) [Emma Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-forrest/) > [Communism is inequality, but not as property is. Property is exploitation of the weak by the strong. Communism is exploitation of the strong by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/communism-is-inequality-but-not-as-property-is-property-is/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) [Browse all 1,510 Communism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The real strength of democracy is that anyone who is not specifically against it must ultimately be for it, while communism suffers from the great tactical liability that anyone who is not specifically for it is eventually forced to oppose it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edwin O. 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