--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bureaucracy is not an obstacle to…" description: "\"Bureaucracy is not an obstacle to democracy but an inevitable complement to it.\" — Joseph A. Schumpeter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/joseph-a-schumpeter-9723_bureaucracy_bureaucracy-is-not-an-obstacle-to-democr_1074769.jpg" --- # Bureaucracy is not an obstacle to democracy but an… ![“Bureaucracy is not an obstacle to democracy but an inevitable complement to it.” quote by Joseph A. Schumpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/joseph-a-schumpeter-9723_bureaucracy_bureaucracy-is-not-an-obstacle-to-democr_1074769.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/joseph-a-schumpeter-9723_bureaucracy_bureaucracy-is-not-an-obstacle-to-democr_1074769.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c9/joseph-a-schumpeter-9723_bureaucracy_bureaucracy-is-not-an-obstacle-to-democr_1074769.jpg) > “Bureaucracy is not an obstacle to democracy but an inevitable complement to it.” [Joseph A. Schumpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-schumpeter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Bureaucracy is an inherent part of democratic systems, not a barrier. **In simple terms:** Bureaucracy is inevitable in democracy. Key Takeaway Work within structures to improve them. Themes politics economics governance Mood analytical critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy reform - government efficiency - citizen participation - public sector innovation Key Concepts Institutional theory public administration Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance efficiency with accountability? A Different Perspective Can bureaucracy become oppressive? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bureaucracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bureaucracy/) [Bureaucracy Obstacle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bureaucracy-obstacle-2696138/) [Complement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complement/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Inevitable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-inevitable-2696135/) [Inevitable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inevitable/) [Inevitable Complement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inevitable-complement-2696136/) [Obstacle Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacle-democracy-2696137/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Rebellious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rebellious/) ## Related quotes > [Cognitive and character skills work together as dynamic complements; they are inseparable. Skills beget skills. More motivated children learn more. Those who are more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-heckman/cognitive-and-character-skills-work-together-as-dynamic-complements/) [James Heckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-heckman/) > [I like to choose things that fit my body for sure; you learn to find the things that complement your shape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gugu-mbatha-raw/i-like-to-choose-things-that-fit-my-body-for-sure-you-learn-to-find/) [Gugu Mbatha-Raw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gugu-mbatha-raw/) > [The cigar is the perfect complement to an elegant lifestyle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sand/the-cigar-is-the-perfect-complement-to-an-elegant-lifestyle/) [George Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sand/) > [If you and your skills are a complement to the computer, your wage and labor market prospects are likely to be cheery. If your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/if-you-and-your-skills-are-a-complement-to-the-computer-your-wage-and/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [The best compliment I ever got from the public or producers or directors is that I just totally blend in and become the character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-compliment-i-ever-got-from-the-public-or-producers-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Because man and woman are the complement of one another, we need woman's thought in national affairs to make a safe and stable government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/because-man-and-woman-are-the-complement-of-one-another-we-need-woman/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [Public morals are natural complement of all laws they are by themselves an entire code.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/public-morals-are-natural-complement-of-all-laws-they-are-by/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [In regards to live shows, space is very important to me. Space and context should complement the music in some way; you gain so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/einar-selvik/in-regards-to-live-shows-space-is-very-important-to-me-space-and/) [Einar Selvik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/einar-selvik/) > [Economic development cannot take a nation forward on its own. We need a society and economy which complement each other. We need to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/economic-development-cannot-take-a-nation-forward-on-its-own-we-need/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Ideology and communication more often than not run into each other rather than complement each other. Principle and communication work together. Ideology and communication…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-luntz/ideology-and-communication-more-often-than-not-run-into-each-other/) [Frank Luntz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-luntz/) > [What's better, a poetic intuition or an intellectual work? I think they complement each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-puig/what-s-better-a-poetic-intuition-or-an-intellectual-work-i-think-they/) [Manuel Puig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-puig/) > [I love Andre 3000 from OutKast. I think we'd complement each other, but I'm hoping he's got a good sense of humour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paloma-faith/i-love-andre-3000-from-outkast-i-think-we-d-complement-each-other-but/) [Paloma Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paloma-faith/) > [I always hope that the artwork will complement and enrich a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-paul-weston/i-always-hope-that-the-artwork-will-complement-and-enrich-a-story/) [Robert Paul Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-paul-weston/) > [One of my business partners would remind me that no fashion line lasts forever, that we would hit the down curve eventually, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daymond-john/one-of-my-business-partners-would-remind-me-that-no-fashion-line/) [Daymond John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daymond-john/) > [I think it's so cool to be tall. Even when I'm not wearing heels people tell me I'm tall and I always take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-think-it-s-so-cool-to-be-tall-even-when-i-m-not-wearing-heels/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) ## More by Joseph A. Schumpeter > [In economic life competition is never completely lacking, but hardly ever is it perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-a-schumpeter/in-economic-life-competition-is-never-completely-lacking-but-hardly/) [Joseph A. Schumpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-schumpeter/) > [Pessimistic visions about almost anything always strike the public as more erudite than optimistic ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-a-schumpeter/pessimistic-visions-about-almost-anything-always-strike-the-public-as/) [Joseph A. Schumpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-schumpeter/) > [The perennial gale of creative destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-a-schumpeter/the-perennial-gale-of-creative-destruction/) [Joseph A. Schumpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-schumpeter/) > [At the heart of capitalism is creative destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-a-schumpeter/at-the-heart-of-capitalism-is-creative-destruction/) [Joseph A. Schumpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-schumpeter/) > [There exists no more democratic institution than the market](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-a-schumpeter/there-exists-no-more-democratic-institution-than-the-market/) [Joseph A. Schumpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-schumpeter/) > [ All we can thus far say about the duration of the units of \[the business cycle\] and each of \[its\] two phases is that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-a-schumpeter/all-we-can-thus-far-say-about-the-duration-of-the-units-of-the/) [Joseph A. Schumpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-schumpeter/) > [The religious quality of Marxism also explains a characteristic attitude of the orthodox Marxist toward opponents. To him, as to any believer in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-a-schumpeter/the-religious-quality-of-marxism-also-explains-a-characteristic/) [Joseph A. Schumpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-schumpeter/) > [Want and effective demand are not the same thing. If they were, the poorest nations would be the ones to display the most vigorous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-a-schumpeter/want-and-effective-demand-are-not-the-same-thing-if-they-were-the/) [Joseph A. Schumpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-schumpeter/) > [I know that it is not enough to be remembered for books and theories. One does not make a difference unless it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-a-schumpeter/i-know-that-it-is-not-enough-to-be-remembered-for-books-and-theories/) [Joseph A. Schumpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-schumpeter/) > [Entrepreneurial profit is the expression of the value of what the entrepreneur contributes to production.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-a-schumpeter/entrepreneurial-profit-is-the-expression-of-the-value-of-what-the/) [Joseph A. Schumpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-schumpeter/) > [ Surely, nothing can be more plain or even more trite common sense than the proposition that innovation \[...\] is at the center of practically… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-a-schumpeter/surely-nothing-can-be-more-plain-or-even-more-trite-common-sense-than/) [Joseph A. Schumpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-schumpeter/) > [The stock exchange is a poor substitute for the Holy Grail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-a-schumpeter/the-stock-exchange-is-a-poor-substitute-for-the-holy-grail/) [Joseph A. Schumpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-schumpeter/) > [For the duration of its collective life, or the time during which its identity may be assumed, each class resembles a hotel or an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-a-schumpeter/for-the-duration-of-its-collective-life-or-the-time-during-which-its/) [Joseph A. Schumpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-schumpeter/) > [The ballot is stronger than bullets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-a-schumpeter/the-ballot-is-stronger-than-bullets/) [Joseph A. Schumpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-schumpeter/) > [Economic progress, in capitalist society, means turmoil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-a-schumpeter/economic-progress-in-capitalist-society-means-turmoil/) [Joseph A. Schumpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-schumpeter/) [Explore all 70 Joseph A. Schumpeter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-schumpeter/) ## More Bureaucracy quotes > [ When the fountains of government \[borrowing\] abundance began to dry up, when through lack of funds and the impossibility of negotiating fresh loans the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-flynn/when-the-fountains-of-government-borrowing-abundance-began-to-dry-up/) [John T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-flynn/) > [There's nothing wrong with the Democratic Party that talks more about - and more loudly about - jobs, and cutting red tape, and bureaucracy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-the-democratic-party-that-talks-more-about/) [John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/) > [Socialism would gather all power to the supreme party and party leaders, rising like stately pinnacles above their vast bureaucracies of civil servants no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/socialism-would-gather-all-power-to-the-supreme-party-and-party/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [I believe that government should confine itself to the public realm and that it should be as stripped down as possible, within reason. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-believe-that-government-should-confine-itself-to-the-public-realm/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I think Kafka was right when he said that for a modern, secular, nonreligious man, state bureaucracy is the only remaining contact with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/i-think-kafka-was-right-when-he-said-that-for-a-modern-secular/) [Slavoj Žižek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [If there's one thing you should know about me it's that I'm utterly unsuited for bureaucracy. I don't know my passwords to anything. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julio-torres/if-there-s-one-thing-you-should-know-about-me-it-s-that-i-m-utterly/) [Julio Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julio-torres/) > [ \[The Utopia of Rules\] should offer a challenge to us all. Should we just accept this bureaucracy as inevitable? Or is there a way… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-tett/the-utopia-of-rules-should-offer-a-challenge-to-us-all-should-we-just/) [Gillian Tett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-tett/) > [“Catholics form a majority in Chile, although there are more and more Evangelicals and Pentacostals who irritate everyone because they have a direct understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/catholics-form-a-majority-in-chile-although-there-are-more-and-more/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“Plato argued that good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will always find a way around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/plato-argued-that-good-people-do-not-need-laws-to-tell-them-to-act/) [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) > [Trump conducts meetings and actually tries to get something done rather than just have the meeting and rather than just announce a framework and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/trump-conducts-meetings-and-actually-tries-to-get-something-done/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [So many signatures for such a small heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/so-many-signatures-for-such-a-small-heart/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [“Uniformity in the common law, consisting of broad principles like the "reasonable person" standard, generally permits adjustment for the circumstances. This type of uniform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-howard/uniformity-in-the-common-law-consisting-of-broad-principles-like-the/) [Philip K. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-howard/) > [“It is horrible to think that the world could one day be filled with nothing but those little cogs, little men clinging to little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-weber/it-is-horrible-to-think-that-the-world-could-one-day-be-filled-with/) [Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-weber/) > [“Bureaucracy will be the deity of the twentieth century.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-ter-esterh-zy/bureaucracy-will-be-the-deity-of-the-twentieth-century/) [Péter Esterházy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-ter-esterh-zy/) > [the greater the bureaucratization of public life, the greater will be the attraction of violence. In a fully developed bureaucracy there is nobody left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/the-greater-the-bureaucratization-of-public-life-the-greater-will-be/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) [Browse all 636 Bureaucracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bureaucracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Bureaucracy is not an obstacle to democracy but an inevitable complement to it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph A. 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