--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy, to maintain itself, must…" description: "\"Democracy, to maintain itself, must repeatedly conquer every cell and corner of the nation. How many of our public institutions and private businesses,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba6/jacques-barzun-3251_cells_democracy-to-maintain-itself-must-repeat_2122638.jpg" --- # Democracy, to maintain itself, must repeatedly conquer… ![“Democracy, to maintain itself, must repeatedly conquer every cell and corner of the nation. How many of our public institutions and private businesses, our schools, hospitals, and domestic hearths are in reality little fascist states where freedom of speech is more rigorously excluded than vermin?” quote by Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba6/jacques-barzun-3251_cells_democracy-to-maintain-itself-must-repeat_2122638.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba6/jacques-barzun-3251_cells_democracy-to-maintain-itself-must-repeat_2122638.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba6/jacques-barzun-3251_cells_democracy-to-maintain-itself-must-repeat_2122638.jpg) > “Democracy, to maintain itself, must repeatedly conquer every cell and corner of the nation. How many of our public institutions and private businesses, our schools, hospitals, and domestic hearths are in reality little fascist states where freedom of speech is more rigorously excluded than vermin?” [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) ## 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 constantly infiltrate all societal sectors, yet many institutions act like authoritarian microstates suppressing speech. **In simple terms:** Democracy needs constant vigilance against authoritarian pockets. Key Takeaway Guard against speech suppression everywhere. Themes politics freedom authoritarianism Mood critical concerned Type political analytical When to use this quote - government policy - corporate culture - education - media Key Concepts democratic theory civil liberties Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens detect authoritarian trends? - What actions protect free speech in daily life? A Different Perspective Complex societies make total democratic control difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cells/) [Conquer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquer/) [Corners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corners/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Maintain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-maintain-691776/) [Excluded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excluded/) [Fascist States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fascist-states-4337230/) [Fascists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fascists/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom of speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-of-speech/) [Freedom Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-speech/) [Hospitals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hospitals/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [States Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states-freedom-1443067/) [Vermin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vermin/) ## Related quotes > [We're the Fascist States of America today, not the United States of America, because the corporations are in power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/we-re-the-fascist-states-of-america-today-not-the-united-states-of/) [Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/) > [The danger of having the Constitution twisted and misconstrued to support vested interests and prejudices must be guarded against if American democracy is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/the-danger-of-having-the-constitution-twisted-and-misconstrued-to/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [We all have a large stake in preserving our democracy, but I maintain that those without power in our society, the black, the brown,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rangel/we-all-have-a-large-stake-in-preserving-our-democracy-but-i-maintain/) [Charles Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rangel/) > [Irrespective of our foreign policies, for decades, other nations and peoples could see, in the United States, a strong democracy that could maintain social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/irrespective-of-our-foreign-policies-for-decades-other-nations-and/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [“What naive garbage. 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It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/in-teaching-you-cannot-see-the-fruit-of-a-day-s-work-it-is-invisible/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [The mind tends to run along the groove of one's intention and overlook the actual expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-mind-tends-to-run-along-the-groove-of-one-s-intention-and/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [Vanity is a static thing. It puts it faith in what it has, and is easily wounded. 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