--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy is too important to be left to…" description: "\"Democracy is too important to be left to politicians.\" — Elizabeth May" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/elizabeth-may-2556_democracy_democracy-is-too-important-to-be-left-to_2804377.png" --- # Democracy is too important to be left to politicians. ![“Democracy is too important to be left to politicians.” quote by Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/elizabeth-may-2556_democracy_democracy-is-too-important-to-be-left-to_2804377.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/elizabeth-may-2556_democracy_democracy-is-too-important-to-be-left-to_2804377.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/elizabeth-may-2556_democracy_democracy-is-too-important-to-be-left-to_2804377.png) > “Democracy is too important to be left to politicians.” [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy must remain in public hands, not solely with politicians, to protect its integrity. **In simple terms:** Democracy belongs to people, not just politicians. Key Takeaway Engage actively in civic processes. Themes democracy citizen participation political accountability rights society Mood motivated concerned Type political inspirational When to use this quote - voting - community organizing - public debate Key Concepts civic engagement political theory Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens hold leaders accountable? - What actions strengthen democratic health? A Different Perspective Political apathy hinders democracy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [Politics is too important to be left to politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-rudman/politics-is-too-important-to-be-left-to-politicians/) [Warren Rudman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-rudman/) > [Government is too big and important to be left to the politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bowles/government-is-too-big-and-important-to-be-left-to-the-politicians/) [Chester Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bowles/) > [Government is too big and too important to be left to the politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bowles/government-is-too-big-and-too-important-to-be-left-to-the-politicians/) [Chester Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bowles/) > [Democracy is much too important to be left to public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/democracy-is-much-too-important-to-be-left-to-public-opinion/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [I have come to the conclusion that politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-have-come-to-the-conclusion-that-politics-is-too-serious-a-matter/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [We have what we call 'fake left' politicians, like Ed Miliband and those who went before him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-loach/we-have-what-we-call-fake-left-politicians-like-ed-miliband-and-those/) [Ken Loach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-loach/) > [I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-gaulle/i-have-come-to-the-conclusion-that-politics-are-too-serious-a-matter/) [Charles de Gaulle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-gaulle/) > [I have come to the conclusions that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-gaulle/i-have-come-to-the-conclusions-that-politics-are-too-serious-a-matter/) [Charles De Gaulle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-gaulle/) > [Some things are too important to be left to the private sector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-galloway/some-things-are-too-important-to-be-left-to-the-private-sector/) [George Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-galloway/) > [Design is too important to be left to designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-loewy/design-is-too-important-to-be-left-to-designers/) [Raymond Loewy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-loewy/) > [The issues are too important to be left for the voters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-issues-are-too-important-to-be-left-for-the-voters/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Law..is too important to be left to the lawyers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-m-friedman/law-is-too-important-to-be-left-to-the-lawyers/) Lawrence M. Friedman > [“War is too important to be left to the generals”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-clemenceau/war-is-too-important-to-be-left-to-the-generals/) [Georges Clemenceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-clemenceau/) > [History is too important to be left to the historians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/history-is-too-important-to-be-left-to-the-historians/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [Never forget that music is too important to be left entirely in the hands of professionals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/never-forget-that-music-is-too-important-to-be-left-entirely-in-the/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) ## More by Elizabeth May > [The movement across Canada to fight toxic chemicals is a women's movement. It's a concern about health; it's very intimate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/the-movement-across-canada-to-fight-toxic-chemicals-is-a-women-s/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [We have an existential crisis, which is the climate crisis. Canada is one of the laggards in the industrialized world. Our record is terrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/we-have-an-existential-crisis-which-is-the-climate-crisis-canada-is/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [“My ears are bleeding. I have a nasty headache. I'm trapped in a room with a murderous faery and I blame you." "That's fair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/my-ears-are-bleeding-i-have-a-nasty-headache-i-m-trapped-in-a-room/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [“Stick by me,” Daniel says to Gavin. “Don’t do anything bloody stupid, all right? Not like last time.” “You know me, old chap,” Gavin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/stick-by-me-daniel-says-to-gavin-don-t-do-anything-bloody-stupid-all/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [“I know the power names hold better than anyone. Yesterday, I was a girl without an identity, someone risen from the ashes of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/i-know-the-power-names-hold-better-than-anyone-yesterday-i-was-a-girl/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [I certainly know that the NDP and the Liberals talk about understanding climate science; they just haven't put forward anything that suggests they actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/i-certainly-know-that-the-ndp-and-the-liberals-talk-about/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [We've certainly always been a feminist party, with strong feminist principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/we-ve-certainly-always-been-a-feminist-party-with-strong-feminist/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [“I'm immortal. You consider the future because one day you'll die. I don't have that uncertainty." - Kiaran”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/i-m-immortal-you-consider-the-future-because-one-day-you-ll-die-i-don/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [“I've changed my mind. Stop inadequately playing human," I say. "Drop her hand and step away. Take a very big step.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/i-ve-changed-my-mind-stop-inadequately-playing-human-i-say-drop-her/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [My funny speech wasn't funny. That's not the first time a politician has done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/my-funny-speech-wasn-t-funny-that-s-not-the-first-time-a-politician/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [If one group of people say a woman has a right to choose, I get queasy because I'm against abortion. I don't think a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/if-one-group-of-people-say-a-woman-has-a-right-to-choose-i-get-queasy/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [“I buckle my sword sheath to my waist and head for the trees. “If you’re coming, hurry up.” They glance at each other, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/i-buckle-my-sword-sheath-to-my-waist-and-head-for-the-trees-if-you-re/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [I would love to focus on writing books that were not just about issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/i-would-love-to-focus-on-writing-books-that-were-not-just-about-issues/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [We appeal to Conservatives who just can't see themselves voting for the corruption and the scandals and the contempt of parliamentary institutions. And of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/we-appeal-to-conservatives-who-just-can-t-see-themselves-voting-for/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [I've been working with every single government since June 1992 to try to get climate action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/i-ve-been-working-with-every-single-government-since-june-1992-to-try/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) [Explore all 161 Elizabeth May quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) ## 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 is too important to be left to politicians.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elizabeth May" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/democracy-is-too-important-to-be-left-to-politicians/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Democracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/democracy-is-too-important-to-be-left-to-politicians/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/elizabeth-may-2556_democracy_democracy-is-too-important-to-be-left-to_2804377.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/elizabeth-may-2556_democracy_democracy-is-too-important-to-be-left-to_2804377.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04d/elizabeth-may-2556_democracy_democracy-is-too-important-to-be-left-to_2804377.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Democracy is too important to be left to politicians.” — Elizabeth May", "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": "Elizabeth May", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Democracy is too important to be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/democracy-is-too-important-to-be-left-to-politicians/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/democracy-is-too-important-to-be-left-to-politicians/#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 } } ] } ```