--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You said, 'How is it possible for…" description: "\"You said, 'How is it possible for democracy to work with an illiterate people who are dying of hunger?' But with that people we made a democracy work.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/indira-gandhi-1113_democracy_you-said-how-is-it-possible-for-democrac_1720188.jpg" --- # You said, 'How is it possible for democracy to work with… ![“You said, 'How is it possible for democracy to work with an illiterate people who are dying of hunger?' But with that people we made a democracy work.” quote by Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/indira-gandhi-1113_democracy_you-said-how-is-it-possible-for-democrac_1720188.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/indira-gandhi-1113_democracy_you-said-how-is-it-possible-for-democrac_1720188.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/indira-gandhi-1113_democracy_you-said-how-is-it-possible-for-democrac_1720188.jpg) > “You said, 'How is it possible for democracy to work with an illiterate people who are dying of hunger?' But with that people we made a democracy work.” [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker defends a democracy that succeeded despite widespread illiteracy and hunger, emphasizing collective effort and resilience. **In simple terms:** Democracy can work even with many challenges. Key Takeaway Support inclusive participation despite hardships. Themes politics democracy resilience social justice Mood determined inspirational Type political historical When to use this quote - policy making - education reform - poverty alleviation Key Concepts collective action governance under adversity Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms made it possible? - How can such a system be improved? A Different Perspective Success may mask ongoing inequities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Hunger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunger/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Having created the conditions that make markets possible, democracy must do all the things that markets undo or cannot do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-barber/having-created-the-conditions-that-make-markets-possible-democracy/) [Benjamin Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-barber/) > [It occurred to me that there wouldn't be world hunger, if you people would MOVE WHERE THE FOOD IS!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-kinison/it-occurred-to-me-that-there-wouldn-t-be-world-hunger-if-you-people/) [Sam Kinison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-kinison/) > [To die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly. Death of one's own free choice, death at the proper time, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/to-die-proudly-when-it-is-no-longer-possible-to-live-proudly-death-of/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/no-one-wants-to-die-even-people-who-want-to-go-to-heaven-don-t-want-4/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [If the people we love are stolen from us, the way to have them live on is to never stop loving them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-barr/if-the-people-we-love-are-stolen-from-us-the-way-to-have-them-live-on-2/) [James O'Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-barr/) > [So uncritically do we accept the idea of property in ideas that we don't even notice how monstrous it is to deny ideas to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/so-uncritically-do-we-accept-the-idea-of-property-in-ideas-that-we/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [“By Rachel Corrie, aged 10 — 1990 I’m here for other children. I’m here because I care. I’m here because children everywhere are suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-corrie/by-rachel-corrie-aged-10-1990-i-m-here-for-other-children-i-m-here/) [Rachel Corrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-corrie/) > [However, everything has an end, everything passes away, even the hunger of people who have not eaten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/however-everything-has-an-end-everything-passes-away-even-the-hunger/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [“We are faced with famine in 1974 and people are dying of hunger. When people are dying of hunger, and you are a young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-yunus/we-are-faced-with-famine-in-1974-and-people-are-dying-of-hunger-when/) [Muhammad Yunus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-yunus/) > [In the long run I don't think anyone can overlook these images of hunger, that people can ignore all my pictures - no, definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-bischof/in-the-long-run-i-don-t-think-anyone-can-overlook-these-images-of/) Werner Bischof > [This fire in me, it's not just the hunger of a woman for a man - it's the hunger of all my people back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anzia-yezierska/this-fire-in-me-it-s-not-just-the-hunger-of-a-woman-for-a-man-it-s/) [Anzia Yezierska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anzia-yezierska/) > [If you attempt to talk with a dying man about sports or business, he is no longer interested. He now sees other things as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/if-you-attempt-to-talk-with-a-dying-man-about-sports-or-business-he/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [There is a social contract in "Fight Club" and in "Choke" where the protagonist has deceived a whole bunch of people. In "Choke" it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/there-is-a-social-contract-in-fight-club-and-in-choke-where-the/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Hunger is a people-made phenomenon, so the central issue is power: the power of those who make the decisions about what is grown and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-moore-lapp/hunger-is-a-people-made-phenomenon-so-the-central-issue-is-power-the/) [Frances Moore Lappé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-moore-lapp/) > [I'm not about to put up a silly skit and preach a 15-minute message on 'how to cope' to a multitude of people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wilkerson/i-m-not-about-to-put-up-a-silly-skit-and-preach-a-15-minute-message/) [David Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wilkerson/) ## More by Indira Gandhi > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [Politics...You see, it depends on what kind of politics. What we did during my father's generation was a duty. And it was beautiful because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/politics-you-see-it-depends-on-what-kind-of-politics-what-we-did/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [I'm not ambitious. Not a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-m-not-ambitious-not-a-bit/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [In all societies that have applied a form of socialism, a certain degree of social economic equality has been achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/in-all-societies-that-have-applied-a-form-of-socialism-a-certain/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [I cannot understand how anyone can be an Indian and not be proud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-cannot-understand-how-anyone-can-be-an-indian-and-not-be-proud/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [Even today to be civilised is held to be synonymous with being westernised. Advanced countries devote large resources to formulating and spreading ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/even-today-to-be-civilised-is-held-to-be-synonymous-with-being/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [To me the function of politics is to make possible the desirable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/to-me-the-function-of-politics-is-to-make-possible-the-desirable/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [To become capable, one must have faith in oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/to-become-capable-one-must-have-faith-in-oneself/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [If we offer something to Bangladesh, it's obvious that Bangladesh is offering something to us. And why shouldn't Bangladesh be able to keep its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/if-we-offer-something-to-bangladesh-it-s-obvious-that-bangladesh-is/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [The India I want, I'll never tire of repeating, is a more just and less poor India, one entirely free of foreign influences. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/the-india-i-want-i-ll-never-tire-of-repeating-is-a-more-just-and-less/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [Satisfied is a word I use only in reference to my country, and I'll never be satisfied for my country. For this reasons I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/satisfied-is-a-word-i-use-only-in-reference-to-my-country-and-i-ll/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [I always wanted to have children - if it had been up to me, I would have had eleven. It was my husband who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-always-wanted-to-have-children-if-it-had-been-up-to-me-i-would-have/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [Defeats are always pitiful. Victories are always last resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/defeats-are-always-pitiful-victories-are-always-last-resources/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [To be liberated, woman must feel free to be herself, not in rivalry to man but in the context of her own capacity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/to-be-liberated-woman-must-feel-free-to-be-herself-not-in-rivalry-to/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [We do not wish to impoverish the environment any further, and yet we cannot for a moment forget the grim poverty of large numbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/we-do-not-wish-to-impoverish-the-environment-any-further-and-yet-we/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) [Explore all 290 Indira Gandhi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) ## 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": "You said, 'How is it possible for democracy to work with an illiterate people who are dying of hunger?' 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