---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A full and fair discussion is essential…"
description: "\"A full and fair discussion is essential to democracy.\" — George Soros"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/george-soros-1593_democracy_a-full-and-fair-discussion-is-essential_366502.jpg"
---

#  A full and fair discussion is essential to democracy.

![“A full and fair discussion is essential to democracy.” quote by George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/george-soros-1593_democracy_a-full-and-fair-discussion-is-essential_366502.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/george-soros-1593_democracy_a-full-and-fair-discussion-is-essential_366502.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/george-soros-1593_democracy_a-full-and-fair-discussion-is-essential_366502.jpg)

> “A full and fair discussion is essential to democracy.”

[George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/)

## About This Quote

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

Open, respectful dialogue is necessary for a healthy democratic system.

**In simple terms:** Discussion is key to democracy.

Key Takeaway

Encourage inclusive debate.

Themes

democracy dialogue politics

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

- elections
- public forums
- policy making
- community meetings

Key Concepts

pluralism deliberative process

Questions to Reflect On

- How can marginalized voices be amplified?
- What safeguards protect against hostile rhetoric?

A Different Perspective

May silence or power imbalances hinder true fairness.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Fair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fair/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/)

## Related quotes

> [There are certain things in a man that have to be won, not forced; inspired, not compelled. Among these are many, I should say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-whitney-griswold/there-are-certain-things-in-a-man-that-have-to-be-won-not-forced/)

[Alfred Whitney Griswold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-whitney-griswold/)

> [A free and open Internet is essential to our democracy, economy, and modern way of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/a-free-and-open-internet-is-essential-to-our-democracy-economy-and/)

[Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/)

> [I am more convinced than ever that a lively two party system is essential to our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stockwell-day/i-am-more-convinced-than-ever-that-a-lively-two-party-system-is/)

[Stockwell Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stockwell-day/)

> [As far as domestic democracy, all here present know that democracy means government of the people by the people. While we agree that consultation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-maurice-de-zayas/as-far-as-domestic-democracy-all-here-present-know-that-democracy/)

[Alfred-Maurice de Zayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-maurice-de-zayas/)

> [The Postal Service is essential to our democracy, economy, and health care system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-padilla/the-postal-service-is-essential-to-our-democracy-economy-and-health/)

[Alex Padilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-padilla/)

> [I think it is absolutely essential in a democracy to have competition in the media, a lot of competition, and we seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-think-it-is-absolutely-essential-in-a-democracy-to-have-competition/)

[Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/)

> [The capacity to combine commitment with skepticism is essential to democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-catherine-bateson/the-capacity-to-combine-commitment-with-skepticism-is-essential-to/)

[Mary Catherine Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-catherine-bateson/)

> [The institution of representative government to us seems an essential part of democracy, but the ancients never thought of it. Its immense merit was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-institution-of-representative-government-to-us-seems-an-essential/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [As a journalist, I fundamentally believe that keeping the public informed is an essential part of democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-brennan/as-a-journalist-i-fundamentally-believe-that-keeping-the-public/)

[Margaret Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-brennan/)

> [Dissent honestly is essential for a democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/dissent-honestly-is-essential-for-a-democracy/)

[Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/)

> [ \[Kathleen Blackshear\] just said, "Have you thought of looking at this?" and so on and so on and so on. And it was a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-mackenzie/kathleen-blackshear-just-said-have-you-thought-of-looking-at-this-and/)

[Warren MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-mackenzie/)

> [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [The "family" has clearly emerged anew in the late 1970s as a central subject for discussion, debate, research and writing in bothscholarly and popular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/the-family-has-clearly-emerged-anew-in-the-late-1970s-as-a-central/)

Sheila Kamerman

> [To prevent discussion of any other explanations of human origins is hardly what I would expect from open-minded educators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-campolo/to-prevent-discussion-of-any-other-explanations-of-human-origins-is/)

[Tony Campolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-campolo/)

> [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/)

[L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/)

## More by George Soros

> [Merkel has realized that the euro is not working, but she cannot change the narrative she has created because that narrative has caught the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/merkel-has-realized-that-the-euro-is-not-working-but-she-cannot/)

[George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/)

> [At times of recession, running a budget deficit is highly desirable. Once the economy begins to recover, you have to balance the budget. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/at-times-of-recession-running-a-budget-deficit-is-highly-desirable/)

[George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/)

> [Markets are designed to allow individuals to look after their private needs and to pursue profit. It's really a great invention and I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/markets-are-designed-to-allow-individuals-to-look-after-their-private/)

[George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/)

> [We must not forget; but we must forgive. Suffering often such compassion from the Jewish community. It was Jewish groups in the US who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/we-must-not-forget-but-we-must-forgive-suffering-often-such/)

[George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/)

> [I very often used to get backaches due to the fact that I was wrong. Whenever you are wrong you have to fight or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/i-very-often-used-to-get-backaches-due-to-the-fact-that-i-was-wrong/)

[George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/)

> [We are the most powerful nation on earth. No external power, no terrorist organization can defeat us. But we can defeat ourselves by getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/we-are-the-most-powerful-nation-on-earth-no-external-power-no/)

[George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/)

> [Markets are constantly in a state of uncertainty and flux and money is made by discounting the obvious and betting on the unexpected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/markets-are-constantly-in-a-state-of-uncertainty-and-flux-and-money/)

[George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/)

> [What works for Germany can't work for the rest of Europe: No country can run a chronic surplus without others running deficits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/what-works-for-germany-can-t-work-for-the-rest-of-europe-no-country/)

[George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/)

> [If truth be known, I carried some rather potent messianic fantasies with me from childhood which I felt I had to control, otherwise I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/if-truth-be-known-i-carried-some-rather-potent-messianic-fantasies/)

[George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/)

> [Find the trend whose premise is false, and bet against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/find-the-trend-whose-premise-is-false-and-bet-against-it/)

[George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/)

> [ We \[at Soros Fund Management\] use options and more exotic derivatives sparingly. We try to catch new trends early and in later stages we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/we-at-soros-fund-management-use-options-and-more-exotic-derivatives/)

[George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/)

> [“On the abstract level, I have turned the belief in my own fallibility into the cornerstone of an elaborate philosophy. On a personal level,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/on-the-abstract-level-i-have-turned-the-belief-in-my-own-fallibility/)

[George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/)

> [The main difference between me and other people who have amassed this kind of money is that I am primarily interested in ideas, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/the-main-difference-between-me-and-other-people-who-have-amassed-this/)

[George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/)

> [By creating the European Central Bank, the member states exposed their own government bonds to the risk of default. Developed countries that issue bonds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/by-creating-the-european-central-bank-the-member-states-exposed-their/)

[George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/)

> [Every bubble has two components: something - some real trend, and a misconception about that trend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/every-bubble-has-two-components-something-some-real-trend-and-a/)

[George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/)

[Explore all 225 George Soros quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/)

## 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": "A full and fair discussion is essential to democracy.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George Soros"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/a-full-and-fair-discussion-is-essential-to-democracy/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Democracy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/a-full-and-fair-discussion-is-essential-to-democracy/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/george-soros-1593_democracy_a-full-and-fair-discussion-is-essential_366502.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/george-soros-1593_democracy_a-full-and-fair-discussion-is-essential_366502.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/george-soros-1593_democracy_a-full-and-fair-discussion-is-essential_366502.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A full and fair discussion is essential to democracy.” — George Soros",
                "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": "George Soros",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A full and fair discussion is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/a-full-and-fair-discussion-is-essential-to-democracy/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/a-full-and-fair-discussion-is-essential-to-democracy/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
