--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would say democracy once meant an…" description: "\"I would say democracy once meant an organizational society and a state, in which the individual citizen is - feels - responsible, and acts responsibly,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/erich-fromm-367_citizen_i-would-say-democracy-once-meant-an-orga_2475604.jpg" --- # I would say democracy once meant an organizational society… ![“I would say democracy once meant an organizational society and a state, in which the individual citizen is - feels - responsible, and acts responsibly, and participates in decision-making.” quote by Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/erich-fromm-367_citizen_i-would-say-democracy-once-meant-an-orga_2475604.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/erich-fromm-367_citizen_i-would-say-democracy-once-meant-an-orga_2475604.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/erich-fromm-367_citizen_i-would-say-democracy-once-meant-an-orga_2475604.jpg) > “I would say democracy once meant an organizational society and a state, in which the individual citizen is - feels - responsible, and acts responsibly, and participates in decision-making.” [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy should empower individuals to act responsibly and engage in collective decision‑making, not just exist passively **In simple terms:** Democracy means responsible participation and shared responsibility Key Takeaway Encourage active civic involvement Themes democracy responsibility participation citizenship Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - community meetings - local governance - public forums - volunteer committees Key Concepts social contract individual agency political theory Questions to Reflect On - What barriers prevent citizens from taking responsibility? - How can institutions foster genuine participation? A Different Perspective People may feel disempowered or apathetic despite democratic structures ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) ## Related quotes > [The individual citizen has very little possibility of having any influence - of making his opinion felt in the decision-making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-individual-citizen-has-very-little-possibility-of-having-any/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [A lot of people say that India has been held back by its democracy. But lets remember that, despite being a poor country, Indias…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/a-lot-of-people-say-that-india-has-been-held-back-by-its-democracy/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) > [A lot of people say that India has been held back by its democracy. But let's remember that, despite being a poor country, India's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/a-lot-of-people-say-that-india-has-been-held-back-by-its-democracy-2/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) > [Ironically, the very fact that democracy has such a lengthy history has actually contributed to confusion and disagreement, for 'democracy' has meant different things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-dahl/ironically-the-very-fact-that-democracy-has-such-a-lengthy-history/) [Robert A. Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-dahl/) > [The essential function of the State is to maintain peace, justice, law, and order, and to protect the individual citizen against aggression, violence, theft,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/the-essential-function-of-the-state-is-to-maintain-peace-justice-law/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [How can there be democracy if the leadership in the United States and Britain don't uphold the values which my father's generation fought the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-redgrave/how-can-there-be-democracy-if-the-leadership-in-the-united-states-and/) [Vanessa Redgrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-redgrave/) > [Democracy, if it meant what our forefathers said, that would be great, but unfortunately it's been corrupted by this funding and funding of campaigns.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/democracy-if-it-meant-what-our-forefathers-said-that-would-be-great/) [George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/) > [An individual citizen cannot protect himself from the powers of large corporations or external governments. It is the responsibility of the government to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/an-individual-citizen-cannot-protect-himself-from-the-powers-of-large/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [I think the nation as a whole has a role in making sure that each individual, each citizen maximizes one's potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-scott/i-think-the-nation-as-a-whole-has-a-role-in-making-sure-that-each/) [Tim Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-scott/) > [The understanding which has driven New Labour's reform is to put the individual citizen - the patient, the parent, the pupil, the law abiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/the-understanding-which-has-driven-new-labour-s-reform-is-to-put-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [“Democracy meant all men were to be heard, and a decision was taken together as a people. Majority rule was a foreign notion. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/democracy-meant-all-men-were-to-be-heard-and-a-decision-was-taken/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Democracy is not meant to be efficient, it is meant to be fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/democracy-is-not-meant-to-be-efficient-it-is-meant-to-be-fair/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [In a government bottomed on the will of all, the... liberty of every individual citizen becomes interesting to all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/in-a-government-bottomed-on-the-will-of-all-the-liberty-of-every/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“In early Greek society, particularly in Athens, democracy meant the equivalent of a permanent town meeting—all decisions of consequence were made in public assembly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-maister/in-early-greek-society-particularly-in-athens-democracy-meant-the/) [David H. Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-maister/) > [It is the government's fundamental duty to ensure the security of every individual citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kennedy/it-is-the-government-s-fundamental-duty-to-ensure-the-security-of/) [Charles Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kennedy/) ## More by Erich Fromm > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Only when man succeeds in developing his reason and love further than he has done so far, only when he can build a world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/only-when-man-succeeds-in-developing-his-reason-and-love-further-than/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Freedom does not mean license.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/freedom-does-not-mean-license/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“It is hardly necessary to stress the fact that the ability to love as an act of giving depends on the character development of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/it-is-hardly-necessary-to-stress-the-fact-that-the-ability-to-love-as/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [The pace of science forces the pace of technique. Theoretical physics forces atomic energy on us; the successful production of the fission bomb forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-pace-of-science-forces-the-pace-of-technique-theoretical-physics/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Exploitation and manipulation produce boredom and triviality; they cripple man, and all factors that make man into a psychic cripple turn him also into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/exploitation-and-manipulation-produce-boredom-and-triviality-they/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Well-being is possible to the degree to which one has overcome one's narcissism; to the degree to which one is open, responsive, sensitive, awake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/well-being-is-possible-to-the-degree-to-which-one-has-overcome-one-s/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“The wealth of data to be found in social and political life. The belief that people do not want to make sacrifices is notoriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-wealth-of-data-to-be-found-in-social-and-political-life-the/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [By equality, one once understood equality in the very same sense in which the Bible speaks of equality: that we are all equal, inasmuch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/by-equality-one-once-understood-equality-in-the-very-same-sense-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Human beings had two basic orientations: HAVING and BEING HAVING: seeks to acquire, posses things even people BEING: focuses on the experience; exchanging, engaging,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/human-beings-had-two-basic-orientations-having-and-being-having-seeks/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Most people are not even aware of their need to conform. They live under the illusion that they follow their own ideas and inclinations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/most-people-are-not-even-aware-of-their-need-to-conform-they-live/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Just as modern mass production requires the standardization of commodities, so the social process requires standardization of man, and this standardization is called equality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/just-as-modern-mass-production-requires-the-standardization-of/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [To respect a person is not possible without knowing him; care and responsibility would be blind if they were not guided by knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/to-respect-a-person-is-not-possible-without-knowing-him-care-and/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Love is an active power in man; a power which breaks through the walls which separate man from his fellow men, which unite him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/love-is-an-active-power-in-man-a-power-which-breaks-through-the-walls/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Perhaps most trivial talk is a need to talk about oneself; hence, the never-ending subject of health and sickness, children, travel, successes, what one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/perhaps-most-trivial-talk-is-a-need-to-talk-about-oneself-hence-the/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) [Explore all 558 Erich Fromm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) ## More Citizen quotes > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [I will be a model prisoner, as I have been a model citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-edwards/i-will-be-a-model-prisoner-as-i-have-been-a-model-citizen/) [Edwin Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-edwards/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [I'm less concerned about whether being a good corporate citizen burnishes a company's reputation. That's just an added benefit. I believe it's a responsibility,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/i-m-less-concerned-about-whether-being-a-good-corporate-citizen/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [As a citizen, hopefully I'm humanist. As an artist, I'm free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/as-a-citizen-hopefully-i-m-humanist-as-an-artist-i-m-free/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [The typical American citizen is the business man. The typical business man is a bad citizen; he is busy. If he is a 'big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/the-typical-american-citizen-is-the-business-man-the-typical-business/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [I am here, a citizen of this country, and I'm saying, 'Hey, the system failed me. I am a good citizen. I contribute to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-am-here-a-citizen-of-this-country-and-i-m-saying-hey-the-system/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [“An anarchist government somehow creates an impression in the hearts of citizens that no one cares.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-anarchist-government-somehow-creates-an-impression-in-the-hearts/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [If the many allegations made to this date are true, then the burglars who broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/if-the-many-allegations-made-to-this-date-are-true-then-the-burglars/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) > [Individuality is the aim of political liberty. By leaving to the citizen as much freedom of action and of being as comports with order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/individuality-is-the-aim-of-political-liberty-by-leaving-to-the/) [James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/) > [Up until the point that you're a citizen, we wanna continue to make sure we understand who you are and why you're here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirstjen-nielsen/up-until-the-point-that-you-re-a-citizen-we-wanna-continue-to-make/) [Kirstjen Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirstjen-nielsen/) > [To be a good citizen, it's important to be able to put yourself in other people's shoes and see the big picture. If everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-pariser/to-be-a-good-citizen-it-s-important-to-be-able-to-put-yourself-in/) [Eli Pariser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-pariser/) > [“I am a citizen of this country,” I declare, “and Mr. Mayor, tonight I will be a citizen of this city when I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ash/i-am-a-citizen-of-this-country-i-declare-and-mr-mayor-tonight-i-will/) [Jerry Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ash/) > [“In a country of ideas, consciousness is its' citizen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/in-a-country-of-ideas-consciousness-is-its-citizen/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth; I am a citizen of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/i-have-no-country-to-fight-for-my-country-is-the-earth-i-am-a-citizen/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) [Browse all 464 Citizen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I would say democracy once meant an organizational society and a state, in which the individual citizen is - feels - responsible, and acts responsibly, and participates in decision-making.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erich Fromm" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/i-would-say-democracy-once-meant-an-organizational-society-and-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Citizen" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/i-would-say-democracy-once-meant-an-organizational-society-and-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/erich-fromm-367_citizen_i-would-say-democracy-once-meant-an-orga_2475604.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/erich-fromm-367_citizen_i-would-say-democracy-once-meant-an-orga_2475604.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76c/erich-fromm-367_citizen_i-would-say-democracy-once-meant-an-orga_2475604.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I would say democracy once meant an organizational society and a state, in which the individual citizen is…” — Erich Fromm", "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": "Erich Fromm", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I would say democracy once meant...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/i-would-say-democracy-once-meant-an-organizational-society-and-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/i-would-say-democracy-once-meant-an-organizational-society-and-a/#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 } } ] } ```