--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy means free television, not good…" description: "\"Democracy means free television, not good television, but free.\" — Johnny Carson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/johnny-carson-2644_democracy_democracy-means-free-television-not-good_146777.png" --- # Democracy means free television, not good television, but… ![“Democracy means free television, not good television, but free.” quote by Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/johnny-carson-2644_democracy_democracy-means-free-television-not-good_146777.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/johnny-carson-2644_democracy_democracy-means-free-television-not-good_146777.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/johnny-carson-2644_democracy_democracy-means-free-television-not-good_146777.png) > “Democracy means free television, not good television, but free.” [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom of broadcast is valued over quality; democracy prioritizes unrestricted access rather than excellence. **In simple terms:** Democracy values free media, not necessarily good media. Key Takeaway Protect free speech even if content quality varies. Themes freedom media democracy quality access Mood critical reflective Type political media When to use this quote - political discourse - media regulation - public broadcasting Key Concepts liberalism public sphere censorship information flow Questions to Reflect On - How does unrestricted media affect public opinion? - Can quality be improved without limiting freedom? A Different Perspective Free media can spread misinformation and undermine informed decision‑making. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) ## Related quotes > [The threat to free television. The reason television is free is because it is a life support system for commercials. That fundamental aspect is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/the-threat-to-free-television-the-reason-television-is-free-is/) [Dick Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-wolf/) > [I grew up with free television. Now, it wasn't free, there was these commercials, and so the economic model was driven through commercials and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-negroponte/i-grew-up-with-free-television-now-it-wasn-t-free-there-was-these/) [Nicholas Negroponte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-negroponte/) > [It's very complicated. There's been this broader mechanism, an industry, which wants people to use free services, from the old days of advertising-supported papers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astra-taylor/it-s-very-complicated-there-s-been-this-broader-mechanism-an-industry/) [Astra Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astra-taylor/) > ['Fire Walk With Me' was so divisive because the tone was so different than the TV series. But now television is almost more of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-smith/fire-walk-with-me-was-so-divisive-because-the-tone-was-so-different/) [Dan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-smith/) > [Once you have some sort of reputation in the outside world, they will try to woo you. They will say, "Won't you come and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/once-you-have-some-sort-of-reputation-in-the-outside-world-they-will/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) > [We can't just have mainstream behavior on television in a free society, we have to make sure we see the whole panorama of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-springer/we-can-t-just-have-mainstream-behavior-on-television-in-a-free/) [Jerry Springer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-springer/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [Being on a successful television show is a good thing. It’s steady work. It’s a chance to work with a group of people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-rowan/being-on-a-successful-television-show-is-a-good-thing-it-s-steady/) [Kelly Rowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-rowan/) > [Democracy means that anyone can grow up to be president, and anyone who doesn't grow up can be vice president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/democracy-means-that-anyone-can-grow-up-to-be-president-and-anyone/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Everybody now seems to be talking about democracy. I don't understand this. As I think of it, democracy isn't like a Sunday suit to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-trumbo/everybody-now-seems-to-be-talking-about-democracy-i-don-t-understand/) [Dalton Trumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-trumbo/) > [Political struggle is the most important thing any of us can do as a citizen in a democracy; and that means the old joining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/political-struggle-is-the-most-important-thing-any-of-us-can-do-as-a/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [I've always really made my living in television. Television has always been so good to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-paulson/i-ve-always-really-made-my-living-in-television-television-has-always/) [Sarah Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-paulson/) > [Television has been very good to me. I grew up on it, and it had quite an impact on me. I'm entertaining opportunities that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-reyes/television-has-been-very-good-to-me-i-grew-up-on-it-and-it-had-quite/) [Judy Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-reyes/) > [It feels good to turn on the TV and have options, a variety. That's why television is so good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeriel-miranda/it-feels-good-to-turn-on-the-tv-and-have-options-a-variety-that-s-why/) [Aeriel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeriel-miranda/) ## More by Johnny Carson > [It's silly to have as one's sole object in life just making money, accumulating wealth. I work because I enjoy what I'm doing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/it-s-silly-to-have-as-one-s-sole-object-in-life-just-making-money/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [The only issue cash presents you is the independence of not stressing about funds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/the-only-issue-cash-presents-you-is-the-independence-of-not-stressing/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [ I can empathize with President \[George Bush\]. I know what it feels like having a young guy waiting around for you to keel over. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-can-empathize-with-president-george-bush-i-know-what-it-feels-like/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [From the time I was a little kid, I was always shy. Performing was when I was outgoing. So I guess I am a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/from-the-time-i-was-a-little-kid-i-was-always-shy-performing-was-when/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [ I'm often asked, "What is your favorite moment during the 30 years you hosted \[The Tonight Show\]?" I really don't have just one. The… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-m-often-asked-what-is-your-favorite-moment-during-the-30-years-you/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [For days after death hair and fingernails continue to grow, but phone calls taper off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/for-days-after-death-hair-and-fingernails-continue-to-grow-but-phone/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Money gives me just one big thing that's really important, and that's the freedom of not having to worry about money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/money-gives-me-just-one-big-thing-that-s-really-important-and-that-s/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [In Hollywood if you don't have a shrink, people think you're crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/in-hollywood-if-you-don-t-have-a-shrink-people-think-you-re-crazy/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Ronald Reagan just signed the new tax law. But I think he was in Hollywood too long. He signed it, 'Best wishes, Ronald Reagan.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/ronald-reagan-just-signed-the-new-tax-law-but-i-think-he-was-in/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [The good news is that the president gets another chance. The bad news is that he'll be two weeks older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/the-good-news-is-that-the-president-gets-another-chance-the-bad-news/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Anytime four New Yorkers get into a cab together without arguing, a bank robbery has just taken place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/anytime-four-new-yorkers-get-into-a-cab-together-without-arguing-a/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [For three days after death, hair and fingernails continue to grow but phone calls taper off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/for-three-days-after-death-hair-and-fingernails-continue-to-grow-but/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [I know a man who gave up smoking, drinking, sex, and rich food. He was healthy right up to the day he killed himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-know-a-man-who-gave-up-smoking-drinking-sex-and-rich-food-he-was/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Never ask your wife if she still hears from her old pimp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/never-ask-your-wife-if-she-still-hears-from-her-old-pimp/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [I can't say I ever wanted to become an entertainer. I already was one, sort of-around the house, at school, doing my magic tricks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-can-t-say-i-ever-wanted-to-become-an-entertainer-i-already-was-one/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) [Explore all 156 Johnny Carson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. 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. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 11,220 Democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Democracy means free television, not good television, but free.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johnny Carson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/democracy-means-free-television-not-good-television-but-free/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Democracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/democracy-means-free-television-not-good-television-but-free/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/johnny-carson-2644_democracy_democracy-means-free-television-not-good_146777.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/johnny-carson-2644_democracy_democracy-means-free-television-not-good_146777.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a6/johnny-carson-2644_democracy_democracy-means-free-television-not-good_146777.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Democracy means free television, not good television, but free.” — Johnny Carson", "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": "Johnny Carson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Democracy means free television, not good...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/democracy-means-free-television-not-good-television-but-free/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/democracy-means-free-television-not-good-television-but-free/#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 } } ] } ```