--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are not exercising our democratic…" description: "\"We are not exercising our democratic rights properly. We need to stop looking for solutions in others.\" — Kamal Haasan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/kamal-haasan-12600_democracy_we-are-not-exercising-our-democratic-rig_146771.jpg" --- # We are not exercising our democratic rights properly. We… ![“We are not exercising our democratic rights properly. We need to stop looking for solutions in others.” quote by Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/kamal-haasan-12600_democracy_we-are-not-exercising-our-democratic-rig_146771.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/kamal-haasan-12600_democracy_we-are-not-exercising-our-democratic-rig_146771.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb7/kamal-haasan-12600_democracy_we-are-not-exercising-our-democratic-rig_146771.jpg) > “We are not exercising our democratic rights properly. We need to stop looking for solutions in others.” [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Citizens must actively engage in democratic processes rather than relying on others for solutions. **In simple terms:** Active participation is essential for democracy. Key Takeaway Participate directly in civic duties. Themes democracy citizen responsibility political engagement empowerment self-reliance Mood concerned motivated Type call to action reflective When to use this quote - voting - community organizing - public forums Key Concepts civic education grassroots activism policy advocacy Questions to Reflect On - What can you do to increase your civic involvement? - How can you encourage others to act? A Different Perspective Apathy and systemic barriers can impede involvement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democratic rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-rights/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) ## Related quotes > [People have the right to protest - that's what democracy is all about. I have no problem with people exercising their democratic rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/people-have-the-right-to-protest-that-s-what-democracy-is-all-about-i/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [“There were times when a man must assert his rights to what was properly his, and he had as much right on the street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-gordons/there-were-times-when-a-man-must-assert-his-rights-to-what-was/) The Gordons > [Democracy is about voting and it's about a majority vote. And it's time that we started exercising the Democratic process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-stabenow/democracy-is-about-voting-and-it-s-about-a-majority-vote-and-it-s/) [Debbie Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-stabenow/) > [Conventions are, by nature, a party. I mean, that's why people become delegates. They come from all over the world to exercise their democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/conventions-are-by-nature-a-party-i-mean-that-s-why-people-become/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [Any unarmed people are slaves, or are subject to slavery at any given moment. If the guns are taken out of the hands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-newton/any-unarmed-people-are-slaves-or-are-subject-to-slavery-at-any-given/) [Huey Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-newton/) > [Being born in Cuba, a country where freedom of speech is non-existent, it's startling to observe how Venezuela, where I was happily raised, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-conchita-alonso/being-born-in-cuba-a-country-where-freedom-of-speech-is-non-existent/) [Maria Conchita Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-conchita-alonso/) > [Let us not despair but act. Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer but the right answer. Let us not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/let-us-not-despair-but-act-let-us-not-seek-the-republican-answer-or/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [If we desire a society without discrimination, then we must not discriminate against anyone in the process of building this society. If we desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/if-we-desire-a-society-without-discrimination-then-we-must-not/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [Ours is a great nation, built upon both free enterprise and the free exercise of basic democratic rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-warnock/ours-is-a-great-nation-built-upon-both-free-enterprise-and-the-free/) [Raphael Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-warnock/) > [If you look at the origins of the postal service in the U.S., the founding fathers created it to protect democratic rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiva-ayyadurai/if-you-look-at-the-origins-of-the-postal-service-in-the-u-s-the/) [Shiva Ayyadurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiva-ayyadurai/) > [We need to get a stable Afghanistan that can ensure the security of Americans, Europeans, and others on the one hand, but more fundamentally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-need-to-get-a-stable-afghanistan-that-can-ensure-the-security-of/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [Popular privileges are consistent with a state of society in which there is great inequality of position. Democratic rights, on the contrary, demand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/popular-privileges-are-consistent-with-a-state-of-society-in-which/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Democracy is the common pursuit of mankind, and all countries must earnestly protect the democratic rights of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/democracy-is-the-common-pursuit-of-mankind-and-all-countries-must/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We have to build movements in the face of trade retaliation on the basis of people's democratic rights, on the basis of an ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vandana-shiva/we-have-to-build-movements-in-the-face-of-trade-retaliation-on-the/) [Vandana Shiva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vandana-shiva/) > [In its proper meaning equality before the law means the right to participate in the making of the laws by which one is governed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/in-its-proper-meaning-equality-before-the-law-means-the-right-to/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) ## More by Kamal Haasan > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [The disgraces I suffer should be attributed to me, but the praises that I get go to my family and teachers. It is they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/the-disgraces-i-suffer-should-be-attributed-to-me-but-the-praises/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [If reality TV is bad, so is Colosseum, so are the gladiators, so are sports. I think cricket is bad. But that's a point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/if-reality-tv-is-bad-so-is-colosseum-so-are-the-gladiators-so-are/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [I am very angry, and you don't need angry politicians. You need politicians with great balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/i-am-very-angry-and-you-don-t-need-angry-politicians-you-need/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [Happiness is perhaps painlessness, a state one rarely appreciates. Happiness, then, is very much like a great talent. It rarely gets appreciated and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/happiness-is-perhaps-painlessness-a-state-one-rarely-appreciates/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [If it doesn't reach the last poor man, your constitution is wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/if-it-doesn-t-reach-the-last-poor-man-your-constitution-is-wrong/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [I am a 21st century man. I don’t believe in magic. I believe in sweat, tears, life and death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/i-am-a-21st-century-man-i-don-t-believe-in-magic-i-believe-in-sweat/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [I don't have tiffs with people. I only mind my business, but whatever interferes my freedom of expression, I have always voiced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/i-don-t-have-tiffs-with-people-i-only-mind-my-business-but-whatever/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [The creation of God itself, I deduced, came from our primal fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/the-creation-of-god-itself-i-deduced-came-from-our-primal-fear/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [You have to appreciate the finer points of your work; criticise, too, if needed. I am also my own worst and most honest critic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/you-have-to-appreciate-the-finer-points-of-your-work-criticise-too-if/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There is a lot to be learnt, and I am always dissatisfied. I am happy but not content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/there-is-a-lot-to-be-learnt-and-i-am-always-dissatisfied-i-am-happy/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [Even if the country is run by a Mussolini, free speech will find its way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/even-if-the-country-is-run-by-a-mussolini-free-speech-will-find-its/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [The box office is a black money laundry shop. No business is straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/the-box-office-is-a-black-money-laundry-shop-no-business-is-straight/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [I write the occasional poem. I think my dabbling in poetry makes me better at screenplays. Poetry teaches the value of condensing, the importance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/i-write-the-occasional-poem-i-think-my-dabbling-in-poetry-makes-me/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [I have been vociferous against government on things like beef. I used to eat beef, but I've stopped. That doesn't mean others shouldn't eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/i-have-been-vociferous-against-government-on-things-like-beef-i-used/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) [Explore all 54 Kamal Haasan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) ## 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": "We are not exercising our democratic rights properly. 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