--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy is a problem and we don't want…" description: "\"Democracy is a problem and we don't want to get rid of it.\" — Frank Gehry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/frank-gehry-2139_democracy_democracy-is-a-problem-and-we-don-t-want_2378957.png" --- # Democracy is a problem and we don't want to get rid of it. ![“Democracy is a problem and we don't want to get rid of it.” quote by Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/frank-gehry-2139_democracy_democracy-is-a-problem-and-we-don-t-want_2378957.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/frank-gehry-2139_democracy_democracy-is-a-problem-and-we-don-t-want_2378957.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/frank-gehry-2139_democracy_democracy-is-a-problem-and-we-don-t-want_2378957.png) > “Democracy is a problem and we don't want to get rid of it.” [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy is flawed yet valuable, indicating a tension between criticism and appreciation. **In simple terms:** Democracy has problems but remains essential. Key Takeaway Accept imperfections while working to improve governance. Themes politics democracy critique Mood concerned hopeful Type political reflective When to use this quote - elections - policy reform - public debates Key Concepts civic engagement systems theory Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of democracy need change? - How can citizens responsibly address its flaws? A Different Perspective Reforming democracy can be slow and contentious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) ## Related quotes > [This living in a democracy is a problem, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/this-living-in-a-democracy-is-a-problem-isn-t-it/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [The freedom to criticize judges and other public officials is necessary to a vibrant democracy. The problem comes when healthy criticism is replaced with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/the-freedom-to-criticize-judges-and-other-public-officials-is-2/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [My argument has always been that this is not an anti-Bush film, it's a pro-democracy film. And if Bush comes out on the wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/my-argument-has-always-been-that-this-is-not-an-anti-bush-film-it-s-a/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [The problem is we don't understand the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-maccready/the-problem-is-we-don-t-understand-the-problem/) [Paul MacCready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-maccready/) > [“What's your problem?" "I don't have problems. I solve them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-cusick/what-s-your-problem-i-don-t-have-problems-i-solve-them/) [John M. Cusick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-cusick/) > [“She'd given it two good years. The problem was, Don had only given it one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/she-d-given-it-two-good-years-the-problem-was-don-had-only-given-it/) [Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/) > [Solve the problem or leave the problem, But.. Don't live with the problem..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yashowardhan/solve-the-problem-or-leave-the-problem-but-don-t-live-with-the-problem/) [Yashowardhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yashowardhan/) > [Crying isn't the complete solution for your problem, so don't cry the whole day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleo/crying-isn-t-the-complete-solution-for-your-problem-so-don-t-cry-the/) [Cleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleo/) > [“Roger, I don’t know what your problem is. I don’t know if it’s a personal grudge, or ambition, or if you just need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-sakey/roger-i-don-t-know-what-your-problem-is-i-don-t-know-if-it-s-a/) [Marcus Sakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-sakey/) > [“If you're not part of the solution...then you're part of the problem. Don't be part of the problem!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/if-you-re-not-part-of-the-solution-then-you-re-part-of-the-problem/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [“I do know you, Fancy. All about you. The problem is, you don’t know about me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-reeves/i-do-know-you-fancy-all-about-you-the-problem-is-you-don-t-know-about/) [dia reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-reeves/) > [Even if you have a problem, you don't need to be one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/even-if-you-have-a-problem-you-don-t-need-to-be-one/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [You either like me, or you don't like me. It's not my problem. I don't care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marouane-fellaini/you-either-like-me-or-you-don-t-like-me-it-s-not-my-problem-i-don-t/) [Marouane Fellaini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marouane-fellaini/) > [That's the problem I have, I don't have a filter. It's something that I'm working on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-hope/that-s-the-problem-i-have-i-don-t-have-a-filter-it-s-something-that-i/) [Charlotte Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-hope/) > [Your problem is not that you are too busy; your problem is that you don't own your situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-vaden/your-problem-is-not-that-you-are-too-busy-your-problem-is-that-you/) [Rory Vaden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-vaden/) ## More by Frank Gehry > [I think my attitudes about the past are very traditional. You can't ignore history; you can't escape it even if you want to. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/i-think-my-attitudes-about-the-past-are-very-traditional-you-can-t/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [In Tokyo, London or Los Angeles people go into McDonald's and the restaurants are identical and people are comfortable. It's unthreatening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/in-tokyo-london-or-los-angeles-people-go-into-mcdonald-s-and-the/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [I'm inspired by a lot of stuff. I always was interested in sculpture and painting and music and literature and all those things. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/i-m-inspired-by-a-lot-of-stuff-i-always-was-interested-in-sculpture/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [One of my greatest influences is the Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/one-of-my-greatest-influences-is-the-italian-artist-gian-lorenzo/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [People live and work in uninspiring environments, but look inside those rooms. Look at the painted walls and the decorations. People rebel even in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/people-live-and-work-in-uninspiring-environments-but-look-inside/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [Childhood play is nothing more than an expression of our individuality and preparation for human interaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/childhood-play-is-nothing-more-than-an-expression-of-our/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [Ideas exist in the marketplace; they are thrown out for everyone to use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/ideas-exist-in-the-marketplace-they-are-thrown-out-for-everyone-to-use/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [Green issues have been used as a marketing tool. Sometimes these green claims are completely meaningless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/green-issues-have-been-used-as-a-marketing-tool-sometimes-these-green/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [There are a lot of questions about whether architecture is art. The people who ask that think pretty tract houses are architecture. But that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/there-are-a-lot-of-questions-about-whether-architecture-is-art-the/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [I used to read more when I was a kid than I do now. It was all sort of fuel for the fire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/i-used-to-read-more-when-i-was-a-kid-than-i-do-now-it-was-all-sort-of/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [I found myself starting architecture with a deep social, Jewish, liberal conscience, and the belief that architecture is for the people. It was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/i-found-myself-starting-architecture-with-a-deep-social-jewish/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [The message I hope to have sent is just the example of being yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/the-message-i-hope-to-have-sent-is-just-the-example-of-being-yourself/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [The whole can be greater than the sum of it's parts, that we all have something to put in the pie to make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/the-whole-can-be-greater-than-the-sum-of-it-s-parts-that-we-all-have/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [I used to sketch - that's the way I thought out loud. Then they made a book of my sketches, and I got self-conscious,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/i-used-to-sketch-that-s-the-way-i-thought-out-loud-then-they-made-a/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [Bilbao opened in 1997. It was only ten years later that I was asked to do another museum. A lot of other people got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/bilbao-opened-in-1997-it-was-only-ten-years-later-that-i-was-asked-to/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) [Explore all 183 Frank Gehry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) ## 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 a problem and we don't want to get rid of it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frank Gehry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/democracy-is-a-problem-and-we-don-t-want-to-get-rid-of-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Democracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/democracy-is-a-problem-and-we-don-t-want-to-get-rid-of-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/frank-gehry-2139_democracy_democracy-is-a-problem-and-we-don-t-want_2378957.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/frank-gehry-2139_democracy_democracy-is-a-problem-and-we-don-t-want_2378957.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/frank-gehry-2139_democracy_democracy-is-a-problem-and-we-don-t-want_2378957.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Democracy is a problem and we don't want to get rid of it.” — Frank Gehry", "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": "Frank Gehry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Democracy is a problem and we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/democracy-is-a-problem-and-we-don-t-want-to-get-rid-of-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/democracy-is-a-problem-and-we-don-t-want-to-get-rid-of-it/#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 } } ] } ```