--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our democracy is but a name. We vote?…" description: "\"Our democracy is but a name. We vote? What does that mean? It means that we choose between two bodies of real, though not avowed, autocrats. We choose ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f4/helen-keller-429_asks_our-democracy-is-but-a-name-we-vote-what_653967.png" --- # Our democracy is but a name. We vote? What does that mean?… ![“Our democracy is but a name. We vote? What does that mean? It means that we choose between two bodies of real, though not avowed, autocrats. We choose between Tweedledum and Tweedledee.… You ask for votes for women. What good can votes do when ten-elevenths of the land of Great Britain belongs to…” quote by Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f4/helen-keller-429_asks_our-democracy-is-but-a-name-we-vote-what_653967.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f4/helen-keller-429_asks_our-democracy-is-but-a-name-we-vote-what_653967.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f4/helen-keller-429_asks_our-democracy-is-but-a-name-we-vote-what_653967.png) > “Our democracy is but a name. We vote? What does that mean? It means that we choose between two bodies of real, though not avowed, autocrats. We choose between Tweedledum and Tweedledee.… You ask for votes for women. What good can votes do when ten-elevenths of the land of Great Britain belongs to 200,000 and only one-eleventh to the rest of the 40,000,000? Have your men with their millions of votes freed themselves from this injustice?” [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques superficial democracy, highlighting how voting can be manipulated by a powerful minority, limiting true representation and justice. **In simple terms:** Voting can be a sham when a few control most power. Key Takeaway Question the fairness of your voting system. Themes democracy power representation inequality political critique Mood critical concerned Type political analytical When to use this quote - elections - policy reform - civil rights activism - public discourse Key Concepts elitism majority rule social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure votes reflect the whole population? - What mechanisms protect minority rights in a democracy? A Different Perspective The quote assumes all voting systems are equally flawed, ignoring reforms that broaden participation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Great britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-britain/) [Injustice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injustice/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) ## Related quotes > [Our democracy is but a name. We vote? What does that mean? It means that we choose between two bodies of real, though not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/our-democracy-is-but-a-name-we-vote-what-does-that-mean-it-means-that/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [We, the people, are not free. Our democracy is but a name. We vote? What does that mean? It means we choose between Tweedledee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/we-the-people-are-not-free-our-democracy-is-but-a-name-we-vote-what/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I think we have got to do a better job explaining to people why their vote does count. I think people feel disconnected from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/i-think-we-have-got-to-do-a-better-job-explaining-to-people-why-their/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [It is crucial to have inspiring leaders who deliver on their promises. Cynicism has run deep, because many people think their vote does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/it-is-crucial-to-have-inspiring-leaders-who-deliver-on-their-promises/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [We've got the right to vote, but what does it mean? People now want to have the right to a job, the right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/we-ve-got-the-right-to-vote-but-what-does-it-mean-people-now-want-to/) [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) > [Hillary Clinton wants their vote, and she does nothing, and then she comes back four years later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/hillary-clinton-wants-their-vote-and-she-does-nothing-and-then-she/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [For an American, as mad you may be about whatever the EPA or the IRS does, just imagine if you only had a one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hassett/for-an-american-as-mad-you-may-be-about-whatever-the-epa-or-the-irs/) [Kevin Hassett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hassett/) > [Despite the government's attempts to manipulate the vote, it does seem clear that the people have voted for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/despite-the-government-s-attempts-to-manipulate-the-vote-it-does-seem/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [Do not think your single vote does not matter much. The rain that refreshes the parched ground is made up of single drops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-sheppard/do-not-think-your-single-vote-does-not-matter-much-the-rain-that/) Kate Sheppard > [“The good thing about democracy is that every vote counts. The problem with democracy is that every vote counts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charbel-tadros/the-good-thing-about-democracy-is-that-every-vote-counts-the-problem/) [Charbel Tadros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charbel-tadros/) > [All we want is to carry out the greatest expression of a free democracy and vote on Catalonia's future. This is not about independence:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carles-puigdemont/all-we-want-is-to-carry-out-the-greatest-expression-of-a-free/) [Carles Puigdemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carles-puigdemont/) > [Now the dictatorship or call it the 'Indonesian regime', fully consolidated its power... You see, the West told Indonesians, indirectly of course, that 'democracy'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-vltchek/now-the-dictatorship-or-call-it-the-indonesian-regime-fully/) [Andre Vltchek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-vltchek/) > [In a democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/in-a-democracy-it-s-your-vote-that-counts-in-feudalism-it-s-your/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [The difference between a democracy and a dictatorship is that in a democracy you vote first and take orders later; in a dictatorship you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/the-difference-between-a-democracy-and-a-dictatorship-is-that-in-a/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Take it from me - every vote counts. In our Democracy, every vote has power. And never forget - that power is yours. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/take-it-from-me-every-vote-counts-in-our-democracy-every-vote-has/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) ## More by Helen Keller > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I rejoice to live in such a splendidly disturbing time!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-rejoice-to-live-in-such-a-splendidly-disturbing-time/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [The clatter of a changing world is not pleasant, and those who have enjoyed the comforts and protection of the old order may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/the-clatter-of-a-changing-world-is-not-pleasant-and-those-who-have/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/be-of-good-cheer-do-not-think-of-today-s-failures-but-of-the-success/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [When indeed shall we learn that we are all related one to the other, that we are all members of one body? Until the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/when-indeed-shall-we-learn-that-we-are-all-related-one-to-the-other/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I have visited sweatshops, factories, and crowded slums. If I could not see it, I could smell it. The foundation of society is laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-have-visited-sweatshops-factories-and-crowded-slums-if-i-could-not/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [If we do not like our work, and do not try to get happiness out of it, we are a menace to our profession…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/if-we-do-not-like-our-work-and-do-not-try-to-get-happiness-out-of-it/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/alone-we-can-do-so-little-together-we-can-do-so-much/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I do not want the peace which passeth understanding, I want the understanding which bringeth peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-do-not-want-the-peace-which-passeth-understanding-i-want-the/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/although-the-world-is-full-of-suffering-it-is-also-full-of-the/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Love? Why ... it is what everybody feels for everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/love-why-it-is-what-everybody-feels-for-everybody-else/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Blindness separates us from things but deafness separates us from people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/blindness-separates-us-from-things-but-deafness-separates-us-from/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [A simple, childlike faith in a Divine Friend solves all the problems that come to us by land or sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/a-simple-childlike-faith-in-a-divine-friend-solves-all-the-problems/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“A beam from the everlasting sun of God. Rude and unresponsive are the stones; Yet in them divine things lie concealed; I hear their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/a-beam-from-the-everlasting-sun-of-god-rude-and-unresponsive-are-the/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I can see in what you call the dark, but which to me is golden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-can-see-in-what-you-call-the-dark-but-which-to-me-is-golden/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) [Explore all 568 Helen Keller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) ## More Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our democracy is but a name. We vote? What does that mean? It means that we choose between two bodies of real, though not avowed, autocrats. We choose between Tweedledum and Tweedledee.… You ask for votes for women. 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