--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many do not understand how precarious…" description: "\"Many do not understand how precarious Western civilization is and what a joy it is. From it, we get real democracy. From it, we get the sort of intelle..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/john-rhys-davies-10160_alien_many-do-not-understand-how-precarious-we_2514627.png" --- # Many do not understand how precarious Western civilization… ![“Many do not understand how precarious Western civilization is and what a joy it is. From it, we get real democracy. From it, we get the sort of intellectual tolerance that allows me to propound something that may be completely alien to you.” quote by John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/john-rhys-davies-10160_alien_many-do-not-understand-how-precarious-we_2514627.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/john-rhys-davies-10160_alien_many-do-not-understand-how-precarious-we_2514627.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7da/john-rhys-davies-10160_alien_many-do-not-understand-how-precarious-we_2514627.png) > “Many do not understand how precarious Western civilization is and what a joy it is. From it, we get real democracy. From it, we get the sort of intellectual tolerance that allows me to propound something that may be completely alien to you.” [John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker emphasizes the delicate nature of Western civilization, celebrating its democratic freedoms and intellectual tolerance that enable exposure to alien ideas. **In simple terms:** Western civilization is fragile yet joyful for its freedoms. Key Takeaway Protect democratic values. Themes civilization democracy intellectual tolerance cultural fragility global perspective Mood concerned optimistic Type philosophical political When to use this quote - education - policy making - public discourse - media analysis Key Concepts political philosophy cultural studies civil rights globalism Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards protect democracy? - How can we foster tolerance for radically different ideas? A Different Perspective The view may romanticize the West and ignore its systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alien/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Civilization Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization-joy-1190424/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Intellectual Tolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual-tolerance-1190425/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Precarious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precarious/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-democracy-235486/) [Tolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) [Western civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western-civilization/) ## Related quotes > [Real democracy is food on the table, the ability to plan your life, the ability to walk on the street without getting mugged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jair-bolsonaro/real-democracy-is-food-on-the-table-the-ability-to-plan-your-life-the/) [Jair Bolsonaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jair-bolsonaro/) > [I believe a real democracy can only flourish when you have your own nation state, your own identity, even your own flag you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geert-wilders/i-believe-a-real-democracy-can-only-flourish-when-you-have-your-own/) [Geert Wilders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geert-wilders/) > [Strip the human race, absolutely naked, and it would be a real democracy. But the introduction of even a rag of tiger skin, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/strip-the-human-race-absolutely-naked-and-it-would-be-a-real/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I think if you're a liberal, you believe that we all are, at least to some extent, our brothers' keepers, you really believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/i-think-if-you-re-a-liberal-you-believe-that-we-all-are-at-least-to/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [We need now to build a culture of genuine nonviolence and real democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/we-need-now-to-build-a-culture-of-genuine-nonviolence-and-real/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [Let's not give the electoral process so much importance. We have to be cynical about it. Let's give importance to the real democracy that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-garcia-bernal/let-s-not-give-the-electoral-process-so-much-importance-we-have-to-be/) [Gael Garcia Bernal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-garcia-bernal/) > [“Well, our economic system "works," it just works in the interests of the masters, and I'd like to see one that works in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/well-our-economic-system-works-it-just-works-in-the-interests-of-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [All real democracy is an attempt like that of a jolly hostess to bring the shy people out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/all-real-democracy-is-an-attempt-like-that-of-a-jolly-hostess-to/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Only a well-organized movement of young people, educators, workers, parents, religious groups and other concerned citizens will be capable of changing the power relations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/only-a-well-organized-movement-of-young-people-educators-workers/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [For all the manufactured 'Republican versus Democrat' drama that dominates today's cable news and political rhetoric, the most striking feature of our present-day democracy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-james/for-all-the-manufactured-republican-versus-democrat-drama-that/) [Letitia James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-james/) > [“In any real democracy, magistracy isn’t a benefit—it’s a burdensome responsibility that can’t fairly be imposed on one individual rather than another”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rousseau-jean-jacques/in-any-real-democracy-magistracy-isn-t-a-benefit-it-s-a-burdensome/) [Rousseau Jean-Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rousseau-jean-jacques/) > [Until we can democratically control the wealth that is created from our labor, there isn't real democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/until-we-can-democratically-control-the-wealth-that-is-created-from/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [We need now to build a culture of geniune nonviolence and real democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mairead-corrigan/we-need-now-to-build-a-culture-of-geniune-nonviolence-and-real/) [Mairead Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mairead-corrigan/) > [What Tunisia urgently needs, is freedom and the building of a real democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashid-al-ghannushi/what-tunisia-urgently-needs-is-freedom-and-the-building-of-a-real/) [Rashid al-Ghannushi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashid-al-ghannushi/) > [Many of the democratization projects are a real threat to real democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-gibson/many-of-the-democratization-projects-are-a-real-threat-to-real/) [Nigel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-gibson/) ## More by John Rhys-Davies > [I can't give a soundbite for love or money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rhys-davies/i-can-t-give-a-soundbite-for-love-or-money/) [John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) > [In the film world, we can all be heroes. In the real world, where heroism can cost you your life or the life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rhys-davies/in-the-film-world-we-can-all-be-heroes-in-the-real-world-where/) [John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) > [I think your children are your measure of success, regardless of work and career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rhys-davies/i-think-your-children-are-your-measure-of-success-regardless-of-work/) [John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) > [When you get back to fundamental questions - 'Why should anything exist?' A, I'm not sure what the answer is in terms of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rhys-davies/when-you-get-back-to-fundamental-questions-why-should-anything-exist/) [John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) > [When I looked further into my mother's history, I realised that her anxieties and her neuroses could be accounted for by facts from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rhys-davies/when-i-looked-further-into-my-mother-s-history-i-realised-that-her/) [John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) > [The most despised sector of Hollywood are the writers. A good writer is quickly promoted to a 'concept man' - and then a producer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rhys-davies/the-most-despised-sector-of-hollywood-are-the-writers-a-good-writer/) [John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) > [I enjoy acting. It's not that I begin to think I'm getting better. I now fully know that I've made no improvement whatsoever since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rhys-davies/i-enjoy-acting-it-s-not-that-i-begin-to-think-i-m-getting-better-i/) [John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) > [I've always been attracted to films which explore the qualities of courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rhys-davies/i-ve-always-been-attracted-to-films-which-explore-the-qualities-of/) [John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) > [Hollywood is a far safer place to work than working abroad, because of the skill level, and because of the safety considerations that experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rhys-davies/hollywood-is-a-far-safer-place-to-work-than-working-abroad-because-of/) [John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) > [I think 'The Lost World' could've been a successful movie except for the fact that it pre-dated the good special effects and computer graphics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rhys-davies/i-think-the-lost-world-could-ve-been-a-successful-movie-except-for/) [John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) > [Once you've got a child to the point that they've discovered books, they're safe. There's a world of the imagination that when they're hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rhys-davies/once-you-ve-got-a-child-to-the-point-that-they-ve-discovered-books/) [John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) > [If I had a bloody tattoo for every film I'd done, I'd be a walking billboard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rhys-davies/if-i-had-a-bloody-tattoo-for-every-film-i-d-done-i-d-be-a-walking/) [John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) > [There is a demographic catastrophe happening in Europe that nobody wants to talk about, that we daren't bring up because we are so cagey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rhys-davies/there-is-a-demographic-catastrophe-happening-in-europe-that-nobody/) [John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) > [Actually, I'm addicted to science fiction. Let me make my diction clear - I love sci-fi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rhys-davies/actually-i-m-addicted-to-science-fiction-let-me-make-my-diction-clear/) [John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) > [Films are fun, but life is much richer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rhys-davies/films-are-fun-but-life-is-much-richer/) [John Rhys-Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) [Explore all 67 John Rhys-Davies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rhys-davies/) ## More Alien quotes > [If you're going to immerse yourself in a project for three years, why not stake out a chunk of the world that is completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-powers/if-you-re-going-to-immerse-yourself-in-a-project-for-three-years-why/) [Richard Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-powers/) > [“If you are an alien, how come you sound like you're from the north?' 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I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hyeon-seo/north-korea-is-still-my-homeland-my-country-i-suffered-on-the-outside/) [Lee Hyeon-seo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hyeon-seo/) > [I don't want to be the embarrassment of the galaxy to have had the power to deflect an asteroid, and then not and end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-be-the-embarrassment-of-the-galaxy-to-have-had-the/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Whatever is not commonly seen is condemned as alien.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-chang/whatever-is-not-commonly-seen-is-condemned-as-alien/) [Iris Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-chang/) > [Alien's a great one. 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