--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pressure and protest is fine, but using…" description: "\"Pressure and protest is fine, but using fear and threats to force politicians to sing to a certain tune will be the death of our democracy.\" — Jess Phi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/863/jess-phillips-6587_death_pressure-and-protest-is-fine-but-using-f_1207264.jpg" --- # Pressure and protest is fine, but using fear and threats… ![“Pressure and protest is fine, but using fear and threats to force politicians to sing to a certain tune will be the death of our democracy.” quote by Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/863/jess-phillips-6587_death_pressure-and-protest-is-fine-but-using-f_1207264.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/863/jess-phillips-6587_death_pressure-and-protest-is-fine-but-using-f_1207264.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/863/jess-phillips-6587_death_pressure-and-protest-is-fine-but-using-f_1207264.jpg) > “Pressure and protest is fine, but using fear and threats to force politicians to sing to a certain tune will be the death of our democracy.” [Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Using intimidation to coerce politicians harms democratic processes. **In simple terms:** Threats to politicians damage democracy. Key Takeaway Reject fear‑based tactics in politics. Themes democracy political ethics power dynamics Mood concerned determined Type political ethical When to use this quote - legislative debates - campaign strategies - public protests Key Concepts authoritarianism civic responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives to pressure can influence policy? - How can citizens protect democratic norms? A Different Perspective Fear tactics may backfire, eroding public trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Threats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-threats-3645442/) [Force Politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force-politicians-3645439/) [Politicians Sing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politicians-sing-3645440/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [Pressure Protest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure-protest-3645441/) [Protest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protest/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) ## Related quotes > [“But too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart, as my favourite poet has written.’ ‘Who’s that?’ ‘W. B. Yeats. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/but-too-long-a-sacrifice-can-make-a-stone-of-the-heart-as-my/) [Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/) > [The pessimism that protests and defends itself cannot be truly said to be pessimism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/the-pessimism-that-protests-and-defends-itself-cannot-be-truly-said/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [There is all the difference in the world between the criminal's avoiding the public eye and the civil disobedience's taking the law into his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/there-is-all-the-difference-in-the-world-between-the-criminal-s/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [It is a sin to be silent when it is your duty to protest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-is-a-sin-to-be-silent-when-it-is-your-duty-to-protest/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In a last violent protest against the hopelessness of imminent death, I sensed my spirit piercing through the enveloping gloom. I felt it transcend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/in-a-last-violent-protest-against-the-hopelessness-of-imminent-death/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“Over 275,000 people had signed to end the construction of the TMT telescope at the Mauna Kea Observatories (MKO) by week 20 of the protest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/over-275-000-people-had-signed-to-end-the-construction-of-the-tmt/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Popular thought appeals to crowds, gatherings and tribes, who use it as a way to guide the herd. It is very evident in protests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/popular-thought-appeals-to-crowds-gatherings-and-tribes-who-use-it-as/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [“FLIES IN DISGUISE Tell me, Have you Really seen Flies in a child's eyes Or heard their hungry cries In the middle Of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/flies-in-disguise-tell-me-have-you-really-seen-flies-in-a-child-s/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [For many people, tear gas is their first interaction with state violence. It's the first time they've been treated like an insect, usually by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/for-many-people-tear-gas-is-their-first-interaction-with-state/) [Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/) > [ \[Christian rebellion\] arises from the doctrine of mankind made in the image of God, and therefore protests against all forms of dehumanization. It sets… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/christian-rebellion-arises-from-the-doctrine-of-mankind-made-in-the/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [“To riot or not to riot, that is the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/to-riot-or-not-to-riot-that-is-the-question/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I'm not going to say I was opposed to the Vietnam War. I'm going to say I'm opposed to war. But I'm also opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-m-not-going-to-say-i-was-opposed-to-the-vietnam-war-i-m-going-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/never-be-afraid-to-raise-your-voice-for-honesty-and-truth-and/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [My first big mistake was made when, in a moment of weakness, I consented to learn the game; for a man who can frankly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/my-first-big-mistake-was-made-when-in-a-moment-of-weakness-i/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [When they started to drain a swamp where birds and fish had lived, for a new housing development down the road from his apartment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maile-meloy/when-they-started-to-drain-a-swamp-where-birds-and-fish-had-lived-for/) [Maile Meloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maile-meloy/) ## More by Jess Phillips > [Being in France means that I am surrounded by examples of nationalised services that work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/being-in-france-means-that-i-am-surrounded-by-examples-of/) [Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/) > [Any MP who deals with immigration a huge amount, which I do, is going to worry about giving powers to the executive to change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/any-mp-who-deals-with-immigration-a-huge-amount-which-i-do-is-going/) [Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/) > [I made a decision to stop feeling envious of other people, to crack on with my life and stop comparing myself with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/i-made-a-decision-to-stop-feeling-envious-of-other-people-to-crack-on/) [Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/) > [I am manic and that leads me to behave badly at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/i-am-manic-and-that-leads-me-to-behave-badly-at-times/) [Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/) > [I have felt the force of what governments can do. I remember my elder son being in the first cohort of kids who got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/i-have-felt-the-force-of-what-governments-can-do-i-remember-my-elder/) [Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/) > [All my life I've been interested in politics. I went on the miners march when I was six months old. My parents are really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/all-my-life-i-ve-been-interested-in-politics-i-went-on-the-miners/) [Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/) > [If we reduce the minimum voting age to 16, as we should, then people could be auto-registered when they are issued with a national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/if-we-reduce-the-minimum-voting-age-to-16-as-we-should-then-people/) [Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/) > [The Labour party is not perfect but I have seen in my own life how it is the greatest vehicle for positive hopeful social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/the-labour-party-is-not-perfect-but-i-have-seen-in-my-own-life-how-it/) [Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/) > [The politics of hope is harder to spread than the politics of hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/the-politics-of-hope-is-harder-to-spread-than-the-politics-of-hate/) [Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/) > [I like to go camping with my kids. I've got an amazing group of friends. Just like any 30-year-old woman I like to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/i-like-to-go-camping-with-my-kids-i-ve-got-an-amazing-group-of/) [Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/) > [I'm a believer in forgiveness. I have worked with people who have been in gangs and now dedicate their lives to helping inner city…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/i-m-a-believer-in-forgiveness-i-have-worked-with-people-who-have-been/) [Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/) > [Lisa Nandy is absolutely right that we need to devolve economic power away from Westminster and learn from what Labour councils around the country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/lisa-nandy-is-absolutely-right-that-we-need-to-devolve-economic-power/) [Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/) > [In every single place I have campaigned in and every single place I have lived, people want some fairly basic things. They want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/in-every-single-place-i-have-campaigned-in-and-every-single-place-i/) [Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/) > [I've made a career out of being able to talk about difficult things, and that comes from growing up in an environment where nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/i-ve-made-a-career-out-of-being-able-to-talk-about-difficult-things/) [Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/) > [Because I sometimes shopped in Waitrose, I thought I was actually quite posh. I've realised that I'm basically a scullery maid. Even the middle-class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/because-i-sometimes-shopped-in-waitrose-i-thought-i-was-actually/) [Jess Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/) [Explore all 98 Jess Phillips quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) [J. Anthony Torino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-anthony-torino/) > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) [Alan W. Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-powers/) > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Pressure and protest is fine, but using fear and threats to force politicians to sing to a certain tune will be the death of our democracy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jess Phillips" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/pressure-and-protest-is-fine-but-using-fear-and-threats-to-force/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/pressure-and-protest-is-fine-but-using-fear-and-threats-to-force/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/863/jess-phillips-6587_death_pressure-and-protest-is-fine-but-using-f_1207264.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/863/jess-phillips-6587_death_pressure-and-protest-is-fine-but-using-f_1207264.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/863/jess-phillips-6587_death_pressure-and-protest-is-fine-but-using-f_1207264.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Pressure and protest is fine, but using fear and threats to force politicians to sing to a certain tune will…” — Jess Phillips", "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": "Jess Phillips", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-phillips/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Pressure and protest is fine, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/pressure-and-protest-is-fine-but-using-fear-and-threats-to-force/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-phillips/pressure-and-protest-is-fine-but-using-fear-and-threats-to-force/#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 } } ] } ```