--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ship of democracy, which has…" description: "\"The ship of democracy, which has weathered all storms, may sink through the mutiny of those on board.\" — Grover Cleveland" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bec/grover-cleveland-6120_democracy_the-ship-of-democracy-which-has-weathere_1470632.jpg" --- # The ship of democracy, which has weathered all storms, may… ![“The ship of democracy, which has weathered all storms, may sink through the mutiny of those on board.” quote by Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bec/grover-cleveland-6120_democracy_the-ship-of-democracy-which-has-weathere_1470632.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bec/grover-cleveland-6120_democracy_the-ship-of-democracy-which-has-weathere_1470632.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bec/grover-cleveland-6120_democracy_the-ship-of-democracy-which-has-weathere_1470632.jpg) > “The ship of democracy, which has weathered all storms, may sink through the mutiny of those on board.” [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even strong democracies can be threatened by internal dissent and betrayal. **In simple terms:** Democracy can fail from within. Key Takeaway Guard democratic institutions against internal threats. Themes politics democracy stability Mood cautionary reflective Type political historical When to use this quote - elections - legislation - public discourse - civil unrest Key Concepts institutional decay citizen engagement Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens reinforce democratic norms? - What signs indicate democratic erosion? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on internal threats may ignore external pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Mutiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutiny/) [River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) [Ship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ship/) [Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storms/) ## Related quotes > [The ship of Democracy, which has weathered all storms, may sink through the mutiny of those aboard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/the-ship-of-democracy-which-has-weathered-all-storms-may-sink-through/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [This ship was a league from us, and some of the men would have taken her, and I would not consent to it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kidd/this-ship-was-a-league-from-us-and-some-of-the-men-would-have-taken/) [William Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kidd/) > [“Sail, sail thy best, ship of democracy, Of value is thy freight, 'tis not the present only, The past is also stored in thee,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/sail-sail-thy-best-ship-of-democracy-of-value-is-thy-freight-tis-not/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [A sailing ship is no democracy; you don't caucus a crew as to where you'll go anymore than you inquire when they'd like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-hayden/a-sailing-ship-is-no-democracy-you-don-t-caucus-a-crew-as-to-where/) [Sterling Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-hayden/) > [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. 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It makes a man a coward: a man cannot steal but it accuseth him; a man cannot swear but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-ll-not-meddle-with-it-it-makes-a-man-a-coward-a-man-cannot-steal/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Mutiny, it was plain, hung over us like a thunder-cloud.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/mutiny-it-was-plain-hung-over-us-like-a-thunder-cloud/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [As far as I'm concerned, if you want to find out about the last day of WWII or the roots of the Indian Mutiny,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/as-far-as-i-m-concerned-if-you-want-to-find-out-about-the-last-day-of/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) ## More by Grover Cleveland > [I have considered the pension list of the republic a roll of honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/i-have-considered-the-pension-list-of-the-republic-a-roll-of-honor/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [It is no credit to me to do right. I am never under any temptation to do wrong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/it-is-no-credit-to-me-to-do-right-i-am-never-under-any-temptation-to/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [I can find no warrant for such an appropriation in the Constitution, and I do not believe that the power and duty of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/i-can-find-no-warrant-for-such-an-appropriation-in-the-constitution/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [Communism is a hateful thing, and a menace to peace and organized government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/communism-is-a-hateful-thing-and-a-menace-to-peace-and-organized/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [A man of true honor protects the unwritten word which binds his conscience more scrupulously, if possible, than he does the bond a breach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/a-man-of-true-honor-protects-the-unwritten-word-which-binds-his/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [Some day I will be better remembered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/some-day-i-will-be-better-remembered/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [Under our scheme of government the waste of public money is a crime against the citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/under-our-scheme-of-government-the-waste-of-public-money-is-a-crime/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [If you are still in school, do not neglect your grades. 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