--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy will not come Today, this year…" description: "\"Democracy will not come Today, this year Nor ever Through compromise and fear.\" — Langston Hughes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c86/langston-hughes-1527_compromise_democracy-will-not-come-today-this-year_1323460.png" --- # Democracy will not come Today, this year Nor ever Through… ![“Democracy will not come Today, this year Nor ever Through compromise and fear.” quote by Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c86/langston-hughes-1527_compromise_democracy-will-not-come-today-this-year_1323460.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c86/langston-hughes-1527_compromise_democracy-will-not-come-today-this-year_1323460.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c86/langston-hughes-1527_compromise_democracy-will-not-come-today-this-year_1323460.png) > “Democracy will not come Today, this year Nor ever Through compromise and fear.” [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy cannot be forced quickly; it requires genuine consensus, not fear‑driven compromise. **In simple terms:** Democracy needs true agreement, not fear. Key Takeaway Seek honest dialogue, not shortcuts. Themes politics democracy consensus Mood cautious reflective Type political poetic When to use this quote - elections - community meetings - policy negotiations - activism Key Concepts social contract political theory Questions to Reflect On - What compromises are truly collaborative? - How does fear shape political decisions? A Different Perspective Compromise born of fear can undermine legitimacy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) [Compromise Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise-fear-2439955/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-come-2719335/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Today Year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today-year-2725686/) [Year Compromise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/year-compromise-4417787/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Youth, have no pity; leave no farthing here For age to invest in compromise and fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/youth-have-no-pity-leave-no-farthing-here-for-age-to-invest-in/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [The only difference between you today and a year from now are the people you know and what you have learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-blair/the-only-difference-between-you-today-and-a-year-from-now-are-the/) [Ryan Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-blair/) > [One of the things I realized early in my career is that you do what you believe, in knowing that if you don't, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-dash/one-of-the-things-i-realized-early-in-my-career-is-that-you-do-what/) [Samuel Dash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-dash/) > [I'm for democracy, but imposing democracy is an oxymoron. People have to choose democracy, and it has to come up from below.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-m-for-democracy-but-imposing-democracy-is-an-oxymoron-people-have/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [“If you want the best evidence of just how strong our democracy is, come into the courtroom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ponsor/if-you-want-the-best-evidence-of-just-how-strong-our-democracy-is/) [Michael Ponsor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ponsor/) > [Fascism and communism have not entirely disappeared but have been sidelined certainly, and liberal democracy has come to be accepted, in theory at least,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-p-huntington/fascism-and-communism-have-not-entirely-disappeared-but-have-been/) [Samuel P. Huntington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-p-huntington/) > [“I would very much like to know what the Founding Fathers would say if they could see these children being debauched to further the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy-toole/i-would-very-much-like-to-know-what-the-founding-fathers-would-say-if-2/) [John Kennedy Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy-toole/) > [Democracy will not come to Mexico as the result of supposedly optimal policies prescribed by self-appointed saviors bent on economic stabilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/democracy-will-not-come-to-mexico-as-the-result-of-supposedly-optimal/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) > [For the world to follow, we must do more than rattle our sabers and demand allegienace to our vision simply because we believe we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/for-the-world-to-follow-we-must-do-more-than-rattle-our-sabers-and/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“I would very much like to know what the Founding Fathers would say if they could see these children being debauched to further the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy-toole/i-would-very-much-like-to-know-what-the-founding-fathers-would-say-if/) [John Kennedy Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy-toole/) > [In order to preserve our democracy we must come together to end the corrupting influence of money in politics - and we cannot do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-phillips/in-order-to-preserve-our-democracy-we-must-come-together-to-end-the/) [Dean Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-phillips/) > [“Simple answers, reductionist politics, are the most prone to compromise, to saying we’re addressing the essential issue and all that other stuff can slide.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/simple-answers-reductionist-politics-are-the-most-prone-to-compromise/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [Real love is not based upon romance,candle light,dinner and walk along beach.Infact,It's based on care,compromise,respect and trust..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/real-love-is-not-based-upon-romance-candle-light-dinner-and-walk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-erhard/a-compromise-is-the-art-of-dividing-a-cake-in-such-a-way-that/) [Ludwig Erhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-erhard/) > [Leaders need to compromise, negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies, and reform health care the right way - by developing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/leaders-need-to-compromise-negotiate-with-members-of-both-parties-and/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) ## More by Langston Hughes > [Good morning, daddy! Ain't you heard The boogie-woogie rumble Of a dream deferred? • • • • You think It's a happy beat?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/good-morning-daddy-ain-t-you-heard-the-boogie-woogie-rumble-of-a/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [Summer was made to give you a taste of what hell is like. Winter was made for landladies to charge high rents and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/summer-was-made-to-give-you-a-taste-of-what-hell-is-like-winter-was/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [I was a victim of a stereotype. There were only two of us Negro kids in the whole class, and our English teacher was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/i-was-a-victim-of-a-stereotype-there-were-only-two-of-us-negro-kids/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [I am the American heartbreak- The rock on which Freedom Stumped its toe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/i-am-the-american-heartbreak-the-rock-on-which-freedom-stumped-its-toe/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [“As I Grew Older" It was a long time ago. I have almost forgotten my dream. But it was there then, In front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/as-i-grew-older-it-was-a-long-time-ago-i-have-almost-forgotten-my/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [Words Like Freedom There are words like Freedom Sweet and wonderful to say. On my heartstrings freedom sings All day everyday. There are words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/words-like-freedom-there-are-words-like-freedom-sweet-and-wonderful/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [Beauty for some provides escape, who gain a happiness in eyeing the gorgeous buttocks of the ape or Autumn sunsets exquisitely dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/beauty-for-some-provides-escape-who-gain-a-happiness-in-eyeing-the/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [“In America the magazines in which one can frequently publish stories or poems about Negroes are very few, and most of these do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/in-america-the-magazines-in-which-one-can-frequently-publish-stories/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [Perhaps the mission of an artist is to interpret beauty to people - the beauty within themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/perhaps-the-mission-of-an-artist-is-to-interpret-beauty-to-people-the/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [Negro writers, just by being black, have been on the blacklist all our lives. Do you know that there are libraries in our country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/negro-writers-just-by-being-black-have-been-on-the-blacklist-all-our/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [We Negro writers, just by being black, have been on the blacklist all our lives. Censorship for us begins at the color line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/we-negro-writers-just-by-being-black-have-been-on-the-blacklist-all/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [“Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die life is a broken-winged bird that can not fly. Hold fast to dreams for when dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/hold-fast-to-dreams-for-if-dreams-die-life-is-a-broken-winged-bird/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [Oh, God of Dust and Rainbows, Help us to see That without the dust the rainbow Would not be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/oh-god-of-dust-and-rainbows-help-us-to-see-that-without-the-dust-the/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [I loved my friend He went away from me There's nothing more to say The poem ends, Soft as it began- I loved my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/i-loved-my-friend-he-went-away-from-me-there-s-nothing-more-to-say/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [The Jewish people and the Negro people both know the meaning of Nordic supremacy. We have both looked into the eyes of terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/the-jewish-people-and-the-negro-people-both-know-the-meaning-of/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) [Explore all 230 Langston Hughes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) ## More Compromise quotes > [Leaders need to compromise, negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies, and reform health care the right way - by developing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/leaders-need-to-compromise-negotiate-with-members-of-both-parties-and/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-erhard/a-compromise-is-the-art-of-dividing-a-cake-in-such-a-way-that/) [Ludwig Erhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-erhard/) > [Real love is not based upon romance,candle light,dinner and walk along beach.Infact,It's based on care,compromise,respect and trust..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/real-love-is-not-based-upon-romance-candle-light-dinner-and-walk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Simple answers, reductionist politics, are the most prone to compromise, to saying we’re addressing the essential issue and all that other stuff can slide.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/simple-answers-reductionist-politics-are-the-most-prone-to-compromise/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [“I’m not sure sex qualifies as R and R, but it’s a compromise I can live with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-morgen/i-m-not-sure-sex-qualifies-as-r-and-r-but-it-s-a-compromise-i-can/) [Shelby Morgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-morgen/) > [You know what the Englishman's idea of compromise is? He says, Some people say there is a God. Some people say there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/you-know-what-the-englishman-s-idea-of-compromise-is-he-says-some/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [But if you get chronically, psychosocially stressed, you're going to compromise your health. So, essentially, we've evolved to be smart enough to make ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/but-if-you-get-chronically-psychosocially-stressed-you-re-going-to/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [The human spirit will not invest itself in a compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/the-human-spirit-will-not-invest-itself-in-a-compromise/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [No relationship is perfect, ever. There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/no-relationship-is-perfect-ever-there-are-always-some-ways-you-have/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“And what would you like, Sharie?" asked Miss Mush. "What do you have?" asked Sharie. "Potato salad". "What else is there?" asked Sharie. "Nothing"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/and-what-would-you-like-sharie-asked-miss-mush-what-do-you-have-asked/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [A lasting relationship consists of the 3 C's: Commitment. Communication. Compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-lasting-relationship-consists-of-the-3-c-s-commitment-communication/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [As a politician - particularly as a politician in a coalition - you quickly realise that compromise is a part of the game. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-davey/as-a-politician-particularly-as-a-politician-in-a-coalition-you/) [Edward Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-davey/) > [“The fact that I can get away with something is the very reason why I shouldn’t do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-fact-that-i-can-get-away-with-something-is-the-very-reason-why-i/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [There could be some compromise, but I think we have to stick to the provisions of the treaty, and the provisions of the treaty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-santer/there-could-be-some-compromise-but-i-think-we-have-to-stick-to-the/) [Jacques Santer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-santer/) > [Love is not only about romance, candle-lit dinners and walking hand in hand. In fact, real love is about a lifetime of compromise, commitment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aarti-khurana/love-is-not-only-about-romance-candle-lit-dinners-and-walking-hand-in/) [Aarti Khurana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aarti-khurana/) [Browse all 2,076 Compromise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compromise/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Democracy will not come Today, this year Nor ever Through compromise and fear.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Langston Hughes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/democracy-will-not-come-today-this-year-nor-ever-through-compromise/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compromise" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/democracy-will-not-come-today-this-year-nor-ever-through-compromise/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c86/langston-hughes-1527_compromise_democracy-will-not-come-today-this-year_1323460.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c86/langston-hughes-1527_compromise_democracy-will-not-come-today-this-year_1323460.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c86/langston-hughes-1527_compromise_democracy-will-not-come-today-this-year_1323460.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Democracy will not come Today, this year Nor ever Through compromise and fear.” — Langston Hughes", "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": "Langston Hughes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Democracy will not come Today, this...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/democracy-will-not-come-today-this-year-nor-ever-through-compromise/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/democracy-will-not-come-today-this-year-nor-ever-through-compromise/#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 } } ] } ```