---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I well remember a leading Egyptian…"
description: "\"I well remember a leading Egyptian liberal saying to me in 2003 that she did not favor free elections right then in Egypt; she favored them in a decade..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/elliott-abrams-1577_decade_i-well-remember-a-leading-egyptian-liber_2021851.jpg"
---

#  I well remember a leading Egyptian liberal saying to me in…

![“I well remember a leading Egyptian liberal saying to me in 2003 that she did not favor free elections right then in Egypt; she favored them in a decade's time if she and others had those 10 years to organize freely.” quote by Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/elliott-abrams-1577_decade_i-well-remember-a-leading-egyptian-liber_2021851.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/elliott-abrams-1577_decade_i-well-remember-a-leading-egyptian-liber_2021851.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/elliott-abrams-1577_decade_i-well-remember-a-leading-egyptian-liber_2021851.jpg)

> “I well remember a leading Egyptian liberal saying to me in 2003 that she did not favor free elections right then in Egypt; she favored them in a decade's time if she and others had those 10 years to organize freely.”

[Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

An Egyptian liberal in 2003 opposed immediate free elections, preferring a delayed timeline to ensure proper organization.

**In simple terms:** She wanted free elections later, not now.

Key Takeaway

Consider timing and preparation in reforms.

Themes

politics democracy strategy

Mood

cautious critical

Type

political strategic

When to use this quote

- policy planning
- NGO work
- international relations
- academic study

Key Concepts

elections reform civil society

Questions to Reflect On

- Is postponement ever justified?
- What safeguards ensure future elections are fair?

A Different Perspective

Delaying democracy can risk entrenching authoritarianism.

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