--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I’ve always loved that quip from Winston…" description: "\"“I’ve always loved that quip from Winston Churchill about how democracy is the worst form of government—except for all the others. I still believe that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/hillary-rodham-clinton-890_democracy_i-ve-always-loved-that-quip-from-winston_3014748.jpg" --- # I’ve always loved that quip from Winston Churchill about… ![“I’ve always loved that quip from Winston Churchill about how democracy is the worst form of government—except for all the others. I still believe that, even when our system feels totally nuts. (Electoral College, I’m looking at you!)” quote by Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/hillary-rodham-clinton-890_democracy_i-ve-always-loved-that-quip-from-winston_3014748.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/hillary-rodham-clinton-890_democracy_i-ve-always-loved-that-quip-from-winston_3014748.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/hillary-rodham-clinton-890_democracy_i-ve-always-loved-that-quip-from-winston_3014748.jpg) > ““I’ve always loved that quip from Winston Churchill about how democracy is the worst form of government—except for all the others. I still believe that, even when our system feels totally nuts. (Electoral College, I’m looking at you!)”” [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy is flawed but still superior to alternatives; its imperfections are preferable to worse systems. **In simple terms:** Democracy is imperfect but best. Key Takeaway Value democracy despite flaws. Themes politics democracy imperfection comparative analysis Mood hopeful critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - civic engagement - policy debate Key Concepts political theory systems thinking Questions to Reflect On - What reforms improve democratic function? - Why accept flaws over alternatives? A Different Perspective Critics argue democracy can be ineffective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Churchill Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/churchill-democracy-229796/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-worst-425325/) [Electoral college](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electoral-college/) [Government Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-believe-491054/) [Winston churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winston-churchill/) ## Related quotes > [Joe and I are still very aware of the fact that we live in a country where he criticised the government and lived another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-plame/joe-and-i-are-still-very-aware-of-the-fact-that-we-live-in-a-country/) [Valerie Plame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-plame/) > [ I think most of \[people\] are not very well educated themselves to understand the Winston Churchill line - democracy is the worst of all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/i-think-most-of-people-are-not-very-well-educated-themselves-to/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [Democracy is the worst form of government. It is the most inefficient, the most clumsy, the most unpractical… It reduces wisdom to impotence and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-briffault/democracy-is-the-worst-form-of-government-it-is-the-most-inefficient/) [Robert Briffault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-briffault/) > [“Yet, it was infuriating that for the second time in five elections, a Democrat would win more votes but be robbed by this archaic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/yet-it-was-infuriating-that-for-the-second-time-in-five-elections-a/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“The commentator Peter Daou, who worked on my 2008 campaign, captured my feelings when he tweeted, “If Trump had won by 3 million votes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/the-commentator-peter-daou-who-worked-on-my-2008-campaign-captured-my/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [You know, the primary process itself is very confusing. But in the end, I guess I believe what Winston Churchill said, which is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-cowan/you-know-the-primary-process-itself-is-very-confusing-but-in-the-end/) [Geoffrey Cowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-cowan/) > [Democracy's worst fault is that its leaders are likely to reflect the faults and virtues of their constituents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/democracy-s-worst-fault-is-that-its-leaders-are-likely-to-reflect-the/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“Democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/democracy-is-the-worst-form-of-government-except-for-all-those-other/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-s-churchill/democracy-is-the-worst-form-of-government-except-for-all-the-others/) [Winston S. Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-s-churchill/) > [“Democracy is a poor system of government at best; the only thing that can honestly be said in its favor is that it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/democracy-is-a-poor-system-of-government-at-best-the-only-thing-that/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [I'm sort of always trying to reinvent and recreate a better way of being, because, you know, democracy has been "the worst of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-grenier/i-m-sort-of-always-trying-to-reinvent-and-recreate-a-better-way-of/) [Adrian Grenier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-grenier/) > [ I think \[Winston\] Churchill said it was " \[democracy\] the worst of all systems except for all the others." And that's probably true. It's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/i-think-winston-churchill-said-it-was-democracy-the-worst-of-all/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [Democracy is the worst kind of government, I'm sorry. Would you still call yourself a Christian if they elected a new Jesus every four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/democracy-is-the-worst-kind-of-government-i-m-sorry-would-you-still/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/many-forms-of-government-have-been-tried-and-will-be-tried-in-this/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“Similar to Churchill's view that “democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried,” although it is by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-krantz/similar-to-churchill-s-view-that-democracy-is-the-worst-form-of/) [Matthew Krantz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-krantz/) ## More by Hillary Rodham Clinton > [“Putin has positioned himself as the leader of an authoritarian, xenophobic international movement that wants to expel immigrants, break up the European Union, weaken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/putin-has-positioned-himself-as-the-leader-of-an-authoritarian/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“It’s true, though, that we struggled to stay on message. My advisors had to deal with a candidate—me—who often wanted something new to say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/it-s-true-though-that-we-struggled-to-stay-on-message-my-advisors-had/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“He reminded me to focus on the “trendlines,” not just the headlines, and to relish the experiences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/he-reminded-me-to-focus-on-the-trendlines-not-just-the-headlines-and/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“Democrats should reevaluate a lot of our assumptions about which policies are politically viable. These trends make universal programs even more appealing than we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/democrats-should-reevaluate-a-lot-of-our-assumptions-about-which/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“You Can't Keep Wild Animal In Your Back Yard And Expect It To Go only After Your Neighbor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/you-can-t-keep-wild-animal-in-your-back-yard-and-expect-it-to-go-only/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“In people’s lives and worldviews, concerns about economics, race, gender, class, and culture all blend together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/in-people-s-lives-and-worldviews-concerns-about-economics-race-gender/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“if you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/if-you-want-to-go-quickly-go-alone-if-you-want-to-go-far-go-together/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“On her very first day, when she politely raised questions about Bernie’s health care plan—she has a master’s degree in public health and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/on-her-very-first-day-when-she-politely-raised-questions-about-bernie/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“Too many saw the world in zero-sum terms, believing that gains made by fellow Americans they viewed as “other”—people of color, immigrants, women, LGBT…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/too-many-saw-the-world-in-zero-sum-terms-believing-that-gains-made-by/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“Usually when I meet people who are frustrated and angry, my instinctive response is to talk about how we can fix things. That’s why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/usually-when-i-meet-people-who-are-frustrated-and-angry-my/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“In the words of Secretary Clinton, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance in the world to pursue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/in-the-words-of-secretary-clinton-never-doubt-that-you-are-valuable/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“To quote Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in the U.S. Cabinet, under FDR, “The accusation that I’m a woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/to-quote-secretary-of-labor-frances-perkins-the-first-woman-to-serve/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“While there are few problems in today’s world that the United States can solve alone, there are even fewer that can be solved without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/while-there-are-few-problems-in-today-s-world-that-the-united-states/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“if he knows that the Donald J. Trump Foundation is little more than a personal piggy bank, he’ll turn around and accuse, with no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/if-he-knows-that-the-donald-j-trump-foundation-is-little-more-than-a/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) > [“One of the most important but least recognized facts in American politics is that Republicans tend to win in places where more people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/one-of-the-most-important-but-least-recognized-facts-in-american/) [Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) [Explore all 336 Hillary Rodham Clinton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/) ## 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": "“I’ve always loved that quip from Winston Churchill about how democracy is the worst form of government—except for all the others. I still believe that, even when our system feels totally nuts. (Electoral College, I’m looking at you!)”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hillary Rodham Clinton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/i-ve-always-loved-that-quip-from-winston-churchill-about-how/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Democracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/i-ve-always-loved-that-quip-from-winston-churchill-about-how/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/hillary-rodham-clinton-890_democracy_i-ve-always-loved-that-quip-from-winston_3014748.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/hillary-rodham-clinton-890_democracy_i-ve-always-loved-that-quip-from-winston_3014748.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25e/hillary-rodham-clinton-890_democracy_i-ve-always-loved-that-quip-from-winston_3014748.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I’ve always loved that quip from Winston Churchill about how democracy is the worst form of…” — Hillary Rodham Clinton", "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": "Hillary Rodham Clinton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I’ve always loved that quip from...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/i-ve-always-loved-that-quip-from-winston-churchill-about-how/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/i-ve-always-loved-that-quip-from-winston-churchill-about-how/#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 } } ] } ```