--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our democracy cannot be left in the hands…" description: "\"Our democracy cannot be left in the hands of those who would rather watch or participate in a train wreck than stop it.\" — Kimberle Williams Crenshaw" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/kimberle-williams-crenshaw-112_democracy_our-democracy-cannot-be-left-in-the-hand_98833.jpg" --- # Our democracy cannot be left in the hands of those who… ![“Our democracy cannot be left in the hands of those who would rather watch or participate in a train wreck than stop it.” quote by Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/kimberle-williams-crenshaw-112_democracy_our-democracy-cannot-be-left-in-the-hand_98833.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/kimberle-williams-crenshaw-112_democracy_our-democracy-cannot-be-left-in-the-hand_98833.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82c/kimberle-williams-crenshaw-112_democracy_our-democracy-cannot-be-left-in-the-hand_98833.jpg) > “Our democracy cannot be left in the hands of those who would rather watch or participate in a train wreck than stop it.” [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy fails when people choose to watch disaster unfold rather than intervene to prevent it. **In simple terms:** Inaction endangers democracy. Key Takeaway Active participation is vital. Themes democracy civic duty engagement social responsibility Mood urgent concerned Type political critique call to action When to use this quote - voter turnout - community protests - policy advocacy Key Concepts collective action political apathy Practical Applications - civic engagement campaigns - education on democratic responsibilities Questions to Reflect On - What motivates civic disengagement? - How can societies encourage responsible participation? A Different Perspective Some argue that limited participation is a personal choice, not a democratic failure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train/) ## Related quotes > [I would do anything and I will continue to do anything I can to stop the train wreck that is Obamacare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-would-do-anything-and-i-will-continue-to-do-anything-i-can-to-stop/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [After each war there is a little less democracy left to save.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooks-atkinson/after-each-war-there-is-a-little-less-democracy-left-to-save/) [Brooks Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooks-atkinson/) > [If the administration is going to be run according to the PM whims, one wonders if there is democracy left in the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uddhav-thackeray/if-the-administration-is-going-to-be-run-according-to-the-pm-whims/) [Uddhav Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uddhav-thackeray/) > [If it doesn't work, at least it will be an interesting train wreck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/if-it-doesn-t-work-at-least-it-will-be-an-interesting-train-wreck/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [“Everyone’s worried about stopping terrorism. Well, there’s really an easy way: Stop participating in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/everyone-s-worried-about-stopping-terrorism-well-there-s-really-an/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [You want great TV? I'm gonna give you a friggin train wreck!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/triple-h/you-want-great-tv-i-m-gonna-give-you-a-friggin-train-wreck/) [Triple H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/triple-h/) > [“Since the beginning of the year, she was on a train wreck of emotions crashing through every town of bad anxiety a person could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneta-krpekyan/since-the-beginning-of-the-year-she-was-on-a-train-wreck-of-emotions/) Aneta Krpekyan > [I have to tell them that last night was a shameful train wreck filled with blind cuddly puppies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sheen/i-have-to-tell-them-that-last-night-was-a-shameful-train-wreck-filled/) [Charlie Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sheen/) > [It was a train wreck happening right in front of me and I couldn't do anything about it, except that not only was I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/it-was-a-train-wreck-happening-right-in-front-of-me-and-i-couldn-t-do/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [To do a train wreck and make it look real on screen is tremendously skilful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-walsh/to-do-a-train-wreck-and-make-it-look-real-on-screen-is-tremendously/) [Bradley Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-walsh/) > [“Oh, you're such a hopeless case, Cassie. Such a train wreck.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/oh-you-re-such-a-hopeless-case-cassie-such-a-train-wreck/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [I just see a huge train wreck coming down. You and I have discussed this many times, and I don't see any results yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-baucus/i-just-see-a-huge-train-wreck-coming-down-you-and-i-have-discussed/) [Max Baucus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-baucus/) > [Sometimes it's like watching a train wreck. You're uncomfortable, but you just can't help yourself. Some of those so-called bad interviews actually turned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-danza/sometimes-it-s-like-watching-a-train-wreck-you-re-uncomfortable-but/) [Tony Danza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-danza/) > [“It was so addictive...like a train wreck." "A train wreck," he repeats, disbelieving. "You know---you don't really want to see blood and destruction and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-klein/it-was-so-addictive-like-a-train-wreck-a-train-wreck-he-repeats/) [Katie Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-klein/) > [“It's like watching a train wreck, this conversation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/it-s-like-watching-a-train-wreck-this-conversation/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) ## More by Kimberle Williams Crenshaw > [Black women's intersectional experiences of racism and sexism have been a central but forgotten dynamic in the unfolding of feminist and antiracist agendas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/black-women-s-intersectional-experiences-of-racism-and-sexism-have/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [Sexism isn't a one-size-fits-all phenomenon. It doesn't happen to black and white women the same way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/sexism-isn-t-a-one-size-fits-all-phenomenon-it-doesn-t-happen-to/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [People with problems are not problem people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/people-with-problems-are-not-problem-people/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [Antiracists must acknowledge that patriarchy has long been a weapon of racism and cannot sit comfortably in any politic of racial transformation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/antiracists-must-acknowledge-that-patriarchy-has-long-been-a-weapon/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [We must all stand against both the continual, systematic, and structural racial inequities that normalize daily violence as well as against extreme acts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/we-must-all-stand-against-both-the-continual-systematic-and/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [Intersectionality is an analytic sensibility, a way of thinking about identity and its relationship to power. Originally articulated on behalf of black women, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/intersectionality-is-an-analytic-sensibility-a-way-of-thinking-about/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [We might have to broaden our scope of how we think about where women are vulnerable, because different things make different women vulnerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/we-might-have-to-broaden-our-scope-of-how-we-think-about-where-women/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [... not all black women have silently acquiesced in sexism and misogyny within the African-American community. Indeed, many writers, activists, and other women have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/not-all-black-women-have-silently-acquiesced-in-sexism-and-misogyny/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [Ideally, schools should be supportive environments for students. Unfortunately, zero-tolerance policies tend to funnel vulnerable students out of schools and into prisons, low-income jobs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/ideally-schools-should-be-supportive-environments-for-students/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [Censorship is certainly not the answer to controversial material and is inconsistent with our most basic constitutional values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/censorship-is-certainly-not-the-answer-to-controversial-material-and/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [The point of feminism is you shouldn't have to be a man to be treated with equal respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/the-point-of-feminism-is-you-shouldn-t-have-to-be-a-man-to-be-treated/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [It's not about supplication, it's about power. It's not about asking, it's about demanding. It's not about convincing those who are currently in power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/it-s-not-about-supplication-it-s-about-power-it-s-not-about-asking-it/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [While white women and men of color also experience discrimination, all too often their experiences are taken as the only point of departure for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/while-white-women-and-men-of-color-also-experience-discrimination-all/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [If we aren’t intersectional, some of us, the most vulnerable, are going to fall through the cracks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/if-we-aren-t-intersectional-some-of-us-the-most-vulnerable-are-going/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [Having a monolithic view of feminism is suffocating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/having-a-monolithic-view-of-feminism-is-suffocating/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) [Explore all 61 Kimberle Williams Crenshaw quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) ## 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. 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