--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our opposition will never understand the…" description: "\"Our opposition will never understand the Democratic Party. Our Party is--to the unpracticed eyes of the old Republican Tories--a mysterious contraption..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/710/hubert-h-humphrey-3388_america_our-opposition-will-never-understand-the_598309.jpg" --- # Our opposition will never understand the Democratic Party… ![“Our opposition will never understand the Democratic Party. Our Party is--to the unpracticed eyes of the old Republican Tories--a mysterious contraption that usually seems to be moving in a thousand directions. What they don't know is what hurts them. For all that movement in the Democratic Party…” quote by Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/710/hubert-h-humphrey-3388_america_our-opposition-will-never-understand-the_598309.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/710/hubert-h-humphrey-3388_america_our-opposition-will-never-understand-the_598309.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/710/hubert-h-humphrey-3388_america_our-opposition-will-never-understand-the_598309.jpg) > “Our opposition will never understand the Democratic Party. Our Party is--to the unpracticed eyes of the old Republican Tories--a mysterious contraption that usually seems to be moving in a thousand directions. What they don't know is what hurts them. For all that movement in the Democratic Party is caused by the internal combustion of creative ferment, of ideas, of people vigorously committed to the proposition that change and social progress are not only to be desired; they are necessities of twentieth-century America.” [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Democratic Party’s complexity and internal creative energy drive essential social progress, despite being misunderstood by opponents. **In simple terms:** Party’s chaos fuels necessary change. Key Takeaway Embrace diverse ideas for progress. Themes politics social change creativity party dynamics Mood hopeful strategic Type inspirational analytical When to use this quote - campaign strategy - policy development - grassroots organizing - public debate Key Concepts pluralism innovation social necessity Questions to Reflect On - How can the party better communicate its purpose? - What role does internal debate play in shaping policy? A Different Perspective Opponents may view the party as disorganized, hindering cooperation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Democratic party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-party/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Mysterious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mysterious/) [Opposition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposition/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-progress/) [Twentieth century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twentieth-century/) ## Related quotes > [I was a senior leader within the Movement for Democratic Change. I had a farm that was under the Zimbabwean Investment Center, which gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bennett/i-was-a-senior-leader-within-the-movement-for-democratic-change-i-had/) [Roy Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bennett/) > [ \[We\] assume that social progress is like technological progress: one cannot uninvent the internal combustion engine, so how could one uninvent liberty? ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/we-assume-that-social-progress-is-like-technological-progress-one/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [Because I understand the Constitution, I understand democratic ideals and our parliamentary system, it's an easy transition to then say 'OK, what are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslyn-lewis/because-i-understand-the-constitution-i-understand-democratic-ideals/) [Leslyn Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslyn-lewis/) > [I think to understand how the democratic process works is the most important thing, so people don't get frightened by it, and get put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/i-think-to-understand-how-the-democratic-process-works-is-the-most/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [Few businessmen are capable of being in politics, they don't understand the democratic process, they have neither the tolerance or the depth it takes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/few-businessmen-are-capable-of-being-in-politics-they-don-t/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [I got an excellent opportunity to learn and understand democratic values early on. And it shook me. This played a significant role in making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/i-got-an-excellent-opportunity-to-learn-and-understand-democratic/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [There's one other interesting thing about Western democracy. It didn't arrive at the end point that Karl Marx thought it would that wealth would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/there-s-one-other-interesting-thing-about-western-democracy-it-didn-t/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [I can't understand why the Democratic parties seem so hostile to economic growth and business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/i-can-t-understand-why-the-democratic-parties-seem-so-hostile-to/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [...it ought to be possible to establish a coordinated global program to accomplish the strategic goal of completely eliminating the internal combustion engine over,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/it-ought-to-be-possible-to-establish-a-coordinated-global-program-to/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Everybody thinks an automobile needs an engine. Well, an automobile doesn't necessarily need an engine. What we do is shift electric motors into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-mitchell/everybody-thinks-an-automobile-needs-an-engine-well-an-automobile/) [William J. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-mitchell/) > [“Success is not due to spontaneous combustion. You have to set yourself on fire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/various-attributed-sources/success-is-not-due-to-spontaneous-combustion-you-have-to-set-yourself/) Various attributed sources > [It's pretty boring, working by yourself. The scene happens in between the two of you, and then you don't know what it's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/it-s-pretty-boring-working-by-yourself-the-scene-happens-in-between/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Fulfilling the four needs in an integrated way is like combining elements in chemistry. When we reach a "critical mass" of integration, we experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/fulfilling-the-four-needs-in-an-integrated-way-is-like-combining/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Spontaneous combustion IS a form of harm, Mr. D," Chiron put in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/spontaneous-combustion-is-a-form-of-harm-mr-d-chiron-put-in/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Shakespeare doesn't belong to the past. If his material is valid, it is valid now. It's like coal. The only meaningfulness of a piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-brook/shakespeare-doesn-t-belong-to-the-past-if-his-material-is-valid-it-is/) [Peter Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-brook/) ## More by Hubert H. Humphrey > [Life's unfairness is not irrevocable; we can help balance the scales for others, if not always for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/life-s-unfairness-is-not-irrevocable-we-can-help-balance-the-scales/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [The pursuit of peace resembles the building of a great cathedral. It is the work of a generation. In concept it requires a mater-architect;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/the-pursuit-of-peace-resembles-the-building-of-a-great-cathedral-it/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [In real life, unlike in Shakespeare, the sweetness of the rose depends upon the name it bears. Things are not only what they are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/in-real-life-unlike-in-shakespeare-the-sweetness-of-the-rose-depends/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [Until racial justice and freedom is a reality in this land, our union will remain profoundly imperfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/until-racial-justice-and-freedom-is-a-reality-in-this-land-our-union/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [Foreign policy is really domestic policy with its hat on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/foreign-policy-is-really-domestic-policy-with-its-hat-on/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [The gap between the rich and the poor is the most dangerous threat to world peace we have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/the-gap-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-is-the-most-dangerous-threat-to/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [Anyone who thinks that the vice-president can take a position independent of the president of his administration simply has no knowledge of politics or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/anyone-who-thinks-that-the-vice-president-can-take-a-position/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [You cannot go around and keep score. If you keep score on the good things and the bad things, you'll find out that you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/you-cannot-go-around-and-keep-score-if-you-keep-score-on-the-good/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [There is no such thing as an acceptable level of unemployment, because hunger is not acceptable, poverty is not acceptable, poor health is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/there-is-no-such-thing-as-an-acceptable-level-of-unemployment-because/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [National isolation breeds national neurosis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/national-isolation-breeds-national-neurosis/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [Profit and morality are a hard combination to beat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/profit-and-morality-are-a-hard-combination-to-beat/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [There are not enough jails, not enough police, not enough courts to enforce a law not supported by the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/there-are-not-enough-jails-not-enough-police-not-enough-courts-to/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [You can always debate about what you should have done. The question is what are you going to do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/you-can-always-debate-about-what-you-should-have-done-the-question-is/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [Behind every successful man is a proud wife and a surprised mother-in-law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/behind-every-successful-man-is-a-proud-wife-and-a-surprised-mother-in/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [I believe that each of us can make a difference. That what is wrong can be made right. That people possess the basic wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/i-believe-that-each-of-us-can-make-a-difference-that-what-is-wrong/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) [Explore all 132 Hubert H. Humphrey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [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/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [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/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our opposition will never understand the Democratic Party. Our Party is--to the unpracticed eyes of the old Republican Tories--a mysterious contraption that usually seems to be moving in a thousand directions. What they don't know is what hurts them. 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