--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When people first vote for democracy…" description: "\"When people first vote for democracy, they have extremely high hopes, excessive expectations, and they're not realized. They don't instantly get richer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d02/jimmy-carter-479_democracy_when-people-first-vote-for-democracy-the_2551837.jpg" --- # When people first vote for democracy, they have extremely… ![“When people first vote for democracy, they have extremely high hopes, excessive expectations, and they're not realized. They don't instantly get richer and the schools don't instantly get better and the garbage isn't instantly picked up quicker. So they get disillusioned.” quote by Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d02/jimmy-carter-479_democracy_when-people-first-vote-for-democracy-the_2551837.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d02/jimmy-carter-479_democracy_when-people-first-vote-for-democracy-the_2551837.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d02/jimmy-carter-479_democracy_when-people-first-vote-for-democracy-the_2551837.jpg) > “When people first vote for democracy, they have extremely high hopes, excessive expectations, and they're not realized. They don't instantly get richer and the schools don't instantly get better and the garbage isn't instantly picked up quicker. So they get disillusioned.” [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often expect immediate improvements after adopting democracy, leading to disappointment when change is slow. **In simple terms:** Democracy takes time to improve lives. Key Takeaway Manage expectations for gradual progress. Themes politics hope disillusionment Mood cautious reflective Type political observational When to use this quote - new elections - policy reforms - community projects Key Concepts democratic transition public expectation social change Questions to Reflect On - How can societies sustain optimism during slow reforms? - What realistic milestones can be set? A Different Perspective Change is incremental, not instant. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Disillusioned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disillusioned/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [High hopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-hopes/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) ## Related quotes > [I really want to get the word out to people to register because of course, the more people vote, the more our democracy works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/i-really-want-to-get-the-word-out-to-people-to-register-because-of/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [Democracy is extremely complex; it is extremely concrete. It's about constantly choosing, finding, developing practical options within the common good. Constantly searching for how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/democracy-is-extremely-complex-it-is-extremely-concrete-it-s-about/) [John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/) > [On why I don't trust democracy without extremely powerful systems of accountability and recall What seems to be generosity is often only disguised ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/on-why-i-don-t-trust-democracy-without-extremely-powerful-systems-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [History tells us fascists, who construed the silence of people as fear, ultimately fell. People who vote for democracy is its armour and strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-k-stalin/history-tells-us-fascists-who-construed-the-silence-of-people-as-fear/) [M. K. Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-k-stalin/) > [We need a growing middle class, not one that has been disappearing for 40 years. We need a vibrant one person-one vote democracy, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/we-need-a-growing-middle-class-not-one-that-has-been-disappearing-for/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [In the United States, if 43 percent of eligible voters do not vote, then democracy is weakened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/in-the-united-states-if-43-percent-of-eligible-voters-do-not-vote/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [If you know how to read, you have a complete education about life, then you know how to vote within a democracy. But if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/if-you-know-how-to-read-you-have-a-complete-education-about-life-then/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I would like to say to my friends in Poland: Let's make good choices, vote for democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olga-tokarczuk/i-would-like-to-say-to-my-friends-in-poland-let-s-make-good-choices/) [Olga Tokarczuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olga-tokarczuk/) > [One person, one vote' is what democracy is supposed to be about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-o-meara-sanders/one-person-one-vote-is-what-democracy-is-supposed-to-be-about/) [Jane O'Meara Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-o-meara-sanders/) > [We're showing a lot of the good signs you need for a good team, so I have high hopes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-lundqvist/we-re-showing-a-lot-of-the-good-signs-you-need-for-a-good-team-so-i/) [Henrik Lundqvist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-lundqvist/) > [“I was given the name Prospect because people have high hopes for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-okita/i-was-given-the-name-prospect-because-people-have-high-hopes-for-me/) Dwight Okita > [ So to some extent he \[Barack Obama\] is a victim of the expectations and the high hopes that we experienced. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fullilove/so-to-some-extent-he-barack-obama-is-a-victim-of-the-expectations-and/) Michael Fullilove > [I will keep my head high and my hopes up, because the best kind of revenge is a smile that never gives up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crazymaff/i-will-keep-my-head-high-and-my-hopes-up-because-the-best-kind-of/) CrazyMaff > [“Sometimes when we go through transitions, we aren’t aware of the impact they have on us. Stress, doubt, and even depression commonly result from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/sometimes-when-we-go-through-transitions-we-aren-t-aware-of-the/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) > [“One of Lucy's admirers took to her, apparently." "Took to her?" echoes William, his own feelings for Sugar causing him to construe the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-faber/one-of-lucy-s-admirers-took-to-her-apparently-took-to-her-echoes/) [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) ## More by Jimmy Carter > [One of the most basic principles for making and keeping peace within and between nations. . . is that in political, military, moral, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/one-of-the-most-basic-principles-for-making-and-keeping-peace-within/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [I think politicians really go with the tide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/i-think-politicians-really-go-with-the-tide/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things - he never said that gay people should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/jesus-never-said-a-word-about-homosexuality-in-all-of-his-teachings/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself, and where they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/penalties-against-possession-of-a-drug-should-not-be-more-damaging-to/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [No poor, rural, weak, or black person should ever again have to bear the additional burden of being deprived of the opportunity for an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/no-poor-rural-weak-or-black-person-should-ever-again-have-to-bear-the/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Our individual fates are linked our futures intertwined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/our-individual-fates-are-linked-our-futures-intertwined/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Southerners, whose ancestors a hundred years ago knew the horrors of a homeland devastated by war, are particularly determined that war shall never come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/southerners-whose-ancestors-a-hundred-years-ago-knew-the-horrors-of-a/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [I think the most challenging thing for me in my life and in the Bible is that we worship Jesus as the Prince of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/i-think-the-most-challenging-thing-for-me-in-my-life-and-in-the-bible/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Faith implies a continuing search, not necessarily a final answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/faith-implies-a-continuing-search-not-necessarily-a-final-answer/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [I don't want to tell President Obama how to make a speech. He's a much better speech maker than I am. But I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/i-don-t-want-to-tell-president-obama-how-to-make-a-speech-he-s-a-much/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [We must make it clear that a platform of 'I hate gay men and women' is not a way to become president of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/we-must-make-it-clear-that-a-platform-of-i-hate-gay-men-and-women-is/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [I have a very real political awareness that at least on a transient basis the more drastic action taken by the president, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/i-have-a-very-real-political-awareness-that-at-least-on-a-transient/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Everyone has a right to peaceful coexistence, the basic personal freedoms, the alleviation of suffering, and the opportunity to lead a productive life...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/everyone-has-a-right-to-peaceful-coexistence-the-basic-personal/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Energy will be the immediate test of our ability to unite this Nation, and it can also be the standard around which we rally.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/energy-will-be-the-immediate-test-of-our-ability-to-unite-this-nation/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) [Explore all 532 Jimmy Carter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. 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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. 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