--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy ... is never won but always to…" description: "\"Democracy ... is never won but always to be won.\" — Hallie Flanagan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9a/hallie-flanagan-52322_democracy_democracy-is-never-won-but-always-to-be_2643137.jpg" --- # Democracy ... is never won but always to be won. ![“Democracy ... is never won but always to be won.” quote by Hallie Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9a/hallie-flanagan-52322_democracy_democracy-is-never-won-but-always-to-be_2643137.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9a/hallie-flanagan-52322_democracy_democracy-is-never-won-but-always-to-be_2643137.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9a/hallie-flanagan-52322_democracy_democracy-is-never-won-but-always-to-be_2643137.jpg) > “Democracy ... is never won but always to be won.” [Hallie Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hallie-flanagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy must be continuously won, never assumed secured. **In simple terms:** Democracy requires constant effort. Key Takeaway Never take democracy for granted. Themes democracy citizen engagement political theory Mood inspirational urgent Type civic motivational When to use this quote - elections - activism - policy making Key Concepts civic duty social contract Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay politically active? - What actions sustain democratic health? A Different Perspective Complacency can erode democracy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) ## Related quotes > [In a democracy, you won't always get to have your way. But you should always get to have your say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/in-a-democracy-you-won-t-always-get-to-have-your-way-but-you-should/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [ 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Hallie Flanagan > [the power of radio is not that it speaks to millions, but that it speaks intimately and privately to each one of those millions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hallie-flanagan/the-power-of-radio-is-not-that-it-speaks-to-millions-but-that-it/) [Hallie Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hallie-flanagan/) > [Art in America has always been regarded as a luxury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hallie-flanagan/art-in-america-has-always-been-regarded-as-a-luxury/) [Hallie Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hallie-flanagan/) > [Youth lives in an atmosphere of energy waiting to make contact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hallie-flanagan/youth-lives-in-an-atmosphere-of-energy-waiting-to-make-contact/) [Hallie Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hallie-flanagan/) > [Neither should the theater in our country be regarded as a luxury. It is a necessity because in order to make democracy work the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hallie-flanagan/neither-should-the-theater-in-our-country-be-regarded-as-a-luxury-it/) [Hallie Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hallie-flanagan/) > [ \[To actors on opening night:\] You have had good equipment to work with. You've had a theater with everything you needed, and you are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hallie-flanagan/to-actors-on-opening-night-you-have-had-good-equipment-to-work-with/) [Hallie Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hallie-flanagan/) > [The theater, when it is potent enough to deserve its ancestry, is always dangerous; that is why it is instinctively feared by people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hallie-flanagan/the-theater-when-it-is-potent-enough-to-deserve-its-ancestry-is/) [Hallie Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hallie-flanagan/) [Explore all 7 Hallie Flanagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hallie-flanagan/) ## 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 never won but always to be won.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hallie Flanagan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hallie-flanagan/democracy-is-never-won-but-always-to-be-won/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Democracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hallie-flanagan/democracy-is-never-won-but-always-to-be-won/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9a/hallie-flanagan-52322_democracy_democracy-is-never-won-but-always-to-be_2643137.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9a/hallie-flanagan-52322_democracy_democracy-is-never-won-but-always-to-be_2643137.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9a/hallie-flanagan-52322_democracy_democracy-is-never-won-but-always-to-be_2643137.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Democracy ... is never won but always to be won.” — Hallie Flanagan", "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": "Hallie Flanagan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hallie-flanagan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Democracy ... is never won but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hallie-flanagan/democracy-is-never-won-but-always-to-be-won/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hallie-flanagan/democracy-is-never-won-but-always-to-be-won/#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 } } ] } ```