--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is why we apply the LCD Principle or…" description: "\"“This is why we apply the LCD Principle or Lowest Common Democracy. In short, this is social interaction based not on the best possible good, but on th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/012/geoffrey-wood-4200_american_this-is-why-we-apply-the-lcd-principle-o_1550427.jpg" --- # This is why we apply the LCD Principle or Lowest Common… ![“This is why we apply the LCD Principle or Lowest Common Democracy. In short, this is social interaction based not on the best possible good, but on the least possible offense. Without saying so, the parties involved have entered into the following arrangement: What is the least we can all agree on…” quote by Geoffrey Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/012/geoffrey-wood-4200_american_this-is-why-we-apply-the-lcd-principle-o_1550427.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/012/geoffrey-wood-4200_american_this-is-why-we-apply-the-lcd-principle-o_1550427.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/012/geoffrey-wood-4200_american_this-is-why-we-apply-the-lcd-principle-o_1550427.jpg) > ““This is why we apply the LCD Principle or Lowest Common Democracy. In short, this is social interaction based not on the best possible good, but on the least possible offense. Without saying so, the parties involved have entered into the following arrangement: What is the least we can all agree on and still get along? Of course, you can see this means no one is pleased.”” [Geoffrey Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-wood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It argues that decisions should aim for the minimal acceptable agreement to avoid conflict, rather than seeking optimal outcomes that please everyone. **In simple terms:** Seek the least offensive agreement to keep peace. Key Takeaway Prioritize minimal consensus over maximal satisfaction. Themes conflict avoidance consensus political theory Mood pragmatic critical analytical Type philosophical political strategic When to use this quote - team meetings - negotiations - policy drafting - community building Key Concepts social contract least offense decision making Questions to Reflect On - How can groups balance minimal consensus with striving for excellence? - When is it acceptable to settle for the least offensive option? A Different Perspective May lead to mediocrity and suppress genuine innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [Arrangement Agree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrangement-agree-5793575/) [Christian-fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-fiction/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Common Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-democracy-5793573/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-short-1884117/) [Grimrack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grimrack/) [Lcd Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lcd-principle-5793572/) [Principle Lowest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle-lowest-5793574/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Social interaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-interaction/) ## Related quotes > [Seven years is a short time in the history of a country's democracy. 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Keep it that way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-wood/the-bible-is-the-one-book-we-ve-most-succeeded-in-having-them-never/) [Geoffrey Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-wood/) ## More by Geoffrey Wood > [“Make good and sure your clients all call themselves Americans —proudly so, defiantly, loudly— but without any more thought about it than wearing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-wood/make-good-and-sure-your-clients-all-call-themselves-americans-proudly/) [Geoffrey Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-wood/) > [“The Bible is the one book we’ve most succeeded in having them never read as a book. Keep it that way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-wood/the-bible-is-the-one-book-we-ve-most-succeeded-in-having-them-never/) [Geoffrey Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-wood/) > [“It was like magic, but so much of magic is about misdirection, whereas so much of redemption is straightforward and ordinary, piercing true and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-wood/it-was-like-magic-but-so-much-of-magic-is-about-misdirection-whereas/) [Geoffrey Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-wood/) > [“Though I despise it, I do not doubt His Love for the creatures. I have seen it —His ever-reaching outward for any hand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-wood/though-i-despise-it-i-do-not-doubt-his-love-for-the-creatures-i-have/) [Geoffrey Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-wood/) > [“Everyone needs to calm down! Okay, you got a weird cookie. So what? 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To aspire to goodness in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-wood/you-see-my-point-the-average-person-has-a-very-average-notion-of/) [Geoffrey Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-wood/) > [“Teach them the shame that tells the lie, “I am unforgivable,” when the truth is, “I feel unforgivable, but it was out of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-wood/teach-them-the-shame-that-tells-the-lie-i-am-unforgivable-when-the/) [Geoffrey Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-wood/) > [“Grace runs downhill and now all his time is being redeemed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-wood/grace-runs-downhill-and-now-all-his-time-is-being-redeemed/) [Geoffrey Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-wood/) > [“The Americans want a surplus stocked up to supply their every whim. And their appeals are much less requests, more demands. Indeed, the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-wood/the-americans-want-a-surplus-stocked-up-to-supply-their-every-whim/) [Geoffrey Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-wood/) > [“We have deficited upon their attention in the most disorderly fashion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-wood/we-have-deficited-upon-their-attention-in-the-most-disorderly-fashion/) [Geoffrey Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-wood/) > [“I shouldn’t need to remind you that it was words that created the universe and The Word that now holds it together. While your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-wood/i-shouldn-t-need-to-remind-you-that-it-was-words-that-created-the/) [Geoffrey Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-wood/) > [“That’s where thinking started, where thinking stopped, where all her prayers so long ago had dried up. 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