--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a democracy, you can be right and…" description: "\"In a democracy, you can be right and still lose power.\" — James Wolfensohn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/346/james-wolfensohn-14014_democracy_in-a-democracy-you-can-be-right-and-stil_470068.jpg" --- # In a democracy, you can be right and still lose power. ![“In a democracy, you can be right and still lose power.” quote by James Wolfensohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/346/james-wolfensohn-14014_democracy_in-a-democracy-you-can-be-right-and-stil_470068.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/346/james-wolfensohn-14014_democracy_in-a-democracy-you-can-be-right-and-stil_470068.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/346/james-wolfensohn-14014_democracy_in-a-democracy-you-can-be-right-and-stil_470068.jpg) > “In a democracy, you can be right and still lose power.” [James Wolfensohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolfensohn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In democratic systems, correctness of ideas does not guarantee political success; power depends on persuasion, coalition, and circumstance. **In simple terms:** Being right doesn't ensure winning power. Key Takeaway Focus on building support, not just being correct. Themes politics democracy power truth Mood reflective analytical Type advice political When to use this quote - elections - policy debates - legislative negotiations - activism - campaigns Key Concepts public opinion coalition building strategic communication Questions to Reflect On - How can you translate truth into persuasive influence? - What tactics help bridge correctness and political success? A Different Perspective Even correct arguments can be ignored if they lack emotional appeal or strategic framing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [Fight for whats right even if you lose in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fight-for-whats-right-even-if-you-lose-in-the-end/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are times in politics when you must be on the right side and lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/there-are-times-in-politics-when-you-must-be-on-the-right-side-and/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [“if we must both be right. we will lose each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayyirah-waheed/if-we-must-both-be-right-we-will-lose-each-other/) [Nayyirah Waheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nayyirah-waheed/) > [If you don't start appreciating what's right in front of you, you might lose it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-don-t-start-appreciating-what-s-right-in-front-of-you-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes we do everything right but still lose…!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessi/sometimes-we-do-everything-right-but-still-lose/) [Jessi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessi/) > [It's not whether you're right or wrong that's important, but how much money you make when you're right and how much you lose when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/it-s-not-whether-you-re-right-or-wrong-that-s-important-but-how-much/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [If you dont start appreciating what's right in front of you, you might lose it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-dont-start-appreciating-what-s-right-in-front-of-you-you-might/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me without you, baby, just ain't right. So if I lose you, how will I survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tynisha-keli/me-without-you-baby-just-ain-t-right-so-if-i-lose-you-how-will-i/) [Tynisha Keli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tynisha-keli/) > [“John Kenneth Galbraith: ‘There are times in politics when you must be on the right side and lose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanis-varoufakis/john-kenneth-galbraith-there-are-times-in-politics-when-you-must-be/) [Yanis Varoufakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanis-varoufakis/) > [“Politeness is the first thing people lose once they get the power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/politeness-is-the-first-thing-people-lose-once-they-get-the-power/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Do not lose power over the what-ifs of your life. These are unlimited and endless. Keep your power in the now, in present time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/do-not-lose-power-over-the-what-ifs-of-your-life-these-are-unlimited/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [Those who lose the least are the one with the most power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tokyo-ghoul/those-who-lose-the-least-are-the-one-with-the-most-power/) [Tokyo Ghoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tokyo-ghoul/) > [You lose power in Britain and you are just Joe Public again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/you-lose-power-in-britain-and-you-are-just-joe-public-again/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) > [“Secrets lose their power when they are no longer secrets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-l-flores/secrets-lose-their-power-when-they-are-no-longer-secrets/) Theresa L. Flores > [“our demons lose their power when we pull them out of the depths where they hide and look them in the face in broad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/our-demons-lose-their-power-when-we-pull-them-out-of-the-depths-where/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) ## More by James Wolfensohn > [The notion of the world as a village is becoming a reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolfensohn/the-notion-of-the-world-as-a-village-is-becoming-a-reality/) [James Wolfensohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolfensohn/) > [If you're changing the status quo, whatever move you make is disrupting something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolfensohn/if-you-re-changing-the-status-quo-whatever-move-you-make-is/) [James Wolfensohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolfensohn/) > [The future is in our hands. We are not hapless bystanders. 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It is a human issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolfensohn/the-issue-of-poverty-is-not-a-statistical-issue-it-is-a-human-issue/) [James Wolfensohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolfensohn/) > [Well the specific role of the World Bank is to be ready with financial assistance immediately after this emergency takes place because you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolfensohn/well-the-specific-role-of-the-world-bank-is-to-be-ready-with/) [James Wolfensohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolfensohn/) > [I think that so-called capitalism and trade is a very important element in giving people opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolfensohn/i-think-that-so-called-capitalism-and-trade-is-a-very-important/) [James Wolfensohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolfensohn/) > [Rebuilding Afghanistan is not going to be solved by pouring billions in. 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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. 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