--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy, pure democracy, has at least…" description: "\"Democracy, pure democracy, has at least its foundation in a generous theory of human rights. It is founded on the natural equality of mankind. It is th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/john-quincy-adams-2098_christian-religion_democracy-pure-democracy-has-at-least-it_2539239.jpg" --- # Democracy, pure democracy, has at least its foundation in… ![“Democracy, pure democracy, has at least its foundation in a generous theory of human rights. It is founded on the natural equality of mankind. It is the cornerstone of the Christian religion. It is the first element of all lawful government upon earth.” quote by John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/john-quincy-adams-2098_christian-religion_democracy-pure-democracy-has-at-least-it_2539239.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/john-quincy-adams-2098_christian-religion_democracy-pure-democracy-has-at-least-it_2539239.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/john-quincy-adams-2098_christian-religion_democracy-pure-democracy-has-at-least-it_2539239.jpg) > “Democracy, pure democracy, has at least its foundation in a generous theory of human rights. It is founded on the natural equality of mankind. It is the cornerstone of the Christian religion. It is the first element of all lawful government upon earth.” [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy rests on the belief that all humans possess equal rights, forming the moral basis for just governments. **In simple terms:** Democracy is built on equal human rights. Key Takeaway Uphold equal rights in governance. Themes human rights equality governance morality religion Mood reflective serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political debates - constitutional drafting - civil rights activism - international diplomacy Key Concepts natural law social contract theocracy Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance universal rights with cultural differences? - What safeguards prevent misuse of democratic ideals? A Different Perspective May overlook practical complexities of diverse societies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-religion/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [That's just the nature of democracy. Sometimes pure politics enters into the rhetoric.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush-2/that-s-just-the-nature-of-democracy-sometimes-pure-politics-enters/) [George W Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush-2/) > [“. . . you would have had a protected, satisfied, laborious, and obedient people, taught to seek and to recognize the happiness that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/you-would-have-had-a-protected-satisfied-laborious-and-obedient/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [In the dark, equality for all of mankind couldn't seem brighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-hensel/in-the-dark-equality-for-all-of-mankind-couldn-t-seem-brighter/) [Robert M. Hensel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-hensel/) > [To find equality for mankind, we must first remove the barriers that have divided us for so long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-hensel/to-find-equality-for-mankind-we-must-first-remove-the-barriers-that/) [Robert M. Hensel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-hensel/) > [Islam lays great emphasis on the social side of things. Every day, the rich and the poor, the great and the small living in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali-jinnah/islam-lays-great-emphasis-on-the-social-side-of-things-every-day-the/) [Muhammad Ali Jinnah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali-jinnah/) > [In the many forms of government which have sprung up there has always been an acknowledgement of justice and proportionate equality, although mankind fail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/in-the-many-forms-of-government-which-have-sprung-up-there-has-always/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“Democracy is in the blood of the Muslims, who look upon complete equality of mankind, and believe in fraternity, equality, and liberty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali-jinnah/democracy-is-in-the-blood-of-the-muslims-who-look-upon-complete/) [Muhammad Ali Jinnah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali-jinnah/) > [“Muhammad introduced the concept of such Glorious and Omnipotent God in Whose eyes all worldly systems are pieces of straw. Islamic equality of mankind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-mawde-royden/muhammad-introduced-the-concept-of-such-glorious-and-omnipotent-god/) Dr. Mawde Royden > [The science of war leads one to dictatorship, pure and simple. The science of non-violence alone can lead one to pure democracy. Power based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-science-of-war-leads-one-to-dictatorship-pure-and-simple-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [A pure Democracy, by which I mean a Society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the Government in person,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/a-pure-democracy-by-which-i-mean-a-society-consisting-of-a-small/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [It may be concluded that a pure democracy . . . can admit no cure for the mischiefs of faction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/it-may-be-concluded-that-a-pure-democracy-can-admit-no-cure-for-the/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [The form of government and the condition of society must always correspond. Social equality is therefore a postulate of pure democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/the-form-of-government-and-the-condition-of-society-must-always/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [What is the purpose of the electoral college? It has a few purposes. One, it's to restrain pure democracy. Very good, very important, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-knowles/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-electoral-college-it-has-a-few-purposes/) [Michael J. Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-knowles/) > [The science of nonviolence can alone lead one to pure democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-science-of-nonviolence-can-alone-lead-one-to-pure-democracy/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [ “Too many in your state \[Pennsylvania\], as in this \[New York\], love pure democracy dearly. They seem not to consider that pure democracy, like… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jay/too-many-in-your-state-pennsylvania-as-in-this-new-york-love-pure/) [John Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jay/) ## More by John Quincy Adams > [I do conscientiously and sincerely believe that the Order of Freemasonry, if not the greatest, is one of the greatest moral and political evils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/i-do-conscientiously-and-sincerely-believe-that-the-order-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [About one-half of the members of Congress are seekers for office at the nomination of the President. Of the remainder, at least one-half have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/about-one-half-of-the-members-of-congress-are-seekers-for-office-at/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [ ...he \[Muhammad\] declared undistinguishing and exterminating war, as a part of his religion, against all the rest of mankind...The precept of the Koran is,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/he-muhammad-declared-undistinguishing-and-exterminating-war-as-a-part/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [A man's diary is a record in youth of his sentiments, in middle age of his actions, in old age of his reflections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/a-man-s-diary-is-a-record-in-youth-of-his-sentiments-in-middle-age-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [There still remains one effort of magnanimity, one sacrifice of prejudice and passion, to be made by the individuals throughout the nation who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/there-still-remains-one-effort-of-magnanimity-one-sacrifice-of/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [To live without having a Cicero and a Tacitus at hand seems to me as if it was aprivation of one of my limbs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/to-live-without-having-a-cicero-and-a-tacitus-at-hand-seems-to-me-as/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [ The Law given from Sinai \[The Ten Commandments\] was a civil and municipal as well as a moral and religious code. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/the-law-given-from-sinai-the-ten-commandments-was-a-civil-and/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [Whoever tells the best story wins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/whoever-tells-the-best-story-wins/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [Wherever the standard of freedom and independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will be America's heart, her benedictions and her prayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/wherever-the-standard-of-freedom-and-independence-has-been-or-shall/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [The gigantic intellect, the envious temper, the ravenous ambition and the rotten heart of Daniel Webster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/the-gigantic-intellect-the-envious-temper-the-ravenous-ambition-and/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [“If the fundamental principles in the Declaration of Independence, as self-evident truths, are real truths, the existence of slavery, in any form, is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/if-the-fundamental-principles-in-the-declaration-of-independence-as/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [Individual liberty is individual power, and as the power of a community is a mass compounded of individual powers, the nation which enjoys the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/individual-liberty-is-individual-power-and-as-the-power-of-a/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [Of all persecuted sects, the Baptists stand forth as most prominent, simply and only because they aim at a more complete and thorough reform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/of-all-persecuted-sects-the-baptists-stand-forth-as-most-prominent/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [“It is my wish to fill every moment of my time with some action of the mind which may contribute to the pleasure or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/it-is-my-wish-to-fill-every-moment-of-my-time-with-some-action-of-the/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [Not stones, nor wood, nor the art of artisans make a state; but where men are who know how to take care of themselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/not-stones-nor-wood-nor-the-art-of-artisans-make-a-state-but-where/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) [Explore all 186 John Quincy Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) ## More Christian religion quotes > [Meslier was the most singular phenomenon ever seen among all the meteors fatal to the Christian religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/meslier-was-the-most-singular-phenomenon-ever-seen-among-all-the/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [But there are times when men have serious thoughts, and it is at such times, when they begin to think, that they begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/but-there-are-times-when-men-have-serious-thoughts-and-it-is-at-such/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-carroll-of-carrollton/without-morals-a-republic-cannot-subsist-any-length-of-time-they/) Charles Carroll of Carrollton > [The United States is in no way founded upon the Christian religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-united-states-is-in-no-way-founded-upon-the-christian-religion/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“Our belief of the Scriptures to be the word of God, or a divine revelation, and our understanding of the mind and will of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/our-belief-of-the-scriptures-to-be-the-word-of-god-or-a-divine/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [Only the Christian religion, which in its essence is communicated by the eternal child of God, keeps alive in its believers the lifelong awareness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/only-the-christian-religion-which-in-its-essence-is-communicated-by/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [You find this curious fact, that the more intense has been the religion of any period and more profound has been the dogmatic belief,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/you-find-this-curious-fact-that-the-more-intense-has-been-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The freedom of the press is a valuable privilege; but the abuse of it, in this country, is a frightful evil. The licentiousness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/the-freedom-of-the-press-is-a-valuable-privilege-but-the-abuse-of-it/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [You find as you look around the world that every single bit of progress in humane feeling, every improvement in the criminal law, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/you-find-as-you-look-around-the-world-that-every-single-bit-of/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“In England, under the Blasphemy Laws, it is illegal to express disbelief in the Christian religion, though in practice the law is not set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/in-england-under-the-blasphemy-laws-it-is-illegal-to-express/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I have now disposed of all my property to my family. There is one thing more I wish I could give them, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/i-have-now-disposed-of-all-my-property-to-my-family-there-is-one/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [“The Christian religion alone has been able to cure these twin vices, not by using one to expel the other according to worldly wisdom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-christian-religion-alone-has-been-able-to-cure-these-twin-vices/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“Thus that Upright Judge, whose three Letters my Friend having read, did well approve of 'em, acknowledging, that with great Exactness he had distinguished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stephens/thus-that-upright-judge-whose-three-letters-my-friend-having-read-did/) William Stephens > [Recently I was reading somewhere or other an Italian curio-dealer who attempted to sell a 17th century crucifix to J.P. Morgan. Inside it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/recently-i-was-reading-somewhere-or-other-an-italian-curio-dealer-who/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [I worry about anthropomorphism as a form of self-deception. (The Christian religion is an anthropomorphic account of the universe.)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-worry-about-anthropomorphism-as-a-form-of-self-deception-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 242 Christian religion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-religion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Democracy, pure democracy, has at least its foundation in a generous theory of human rights. It is founded on the natural equality of mankind. It is the cornerstone of the Christian religion. 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