--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our democracy is not a product but a…" description: "\"Our democracy is not a product but a continual process. It is preserved not by monuments but deeds. Sometimes it needs refining; sometimes it needs ame..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34e/lee-h-hamilton-21219_deeds_our-democracy-is-not-a-product-but-a-con_3020511.png" --- # Our democracy is not a product but a continual process. It… ![“Our democracy is not a product but a continual process. It is preserved not by monuments but deeds. Sometimes it needs refining; sometimes it needs amending; sometimes it needs defending. Always, it needs improving.” quote by Lee H. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34e/lee-h-hamilton-21219_deeds_our-democracy-is-not-a-product-but-a-con_3020511.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34e/lee-h-hamilton-21219_deeds_our-democracy-is-not-a-product-but-a-con_3020511.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34e/lee-h-hamilton-21219_deeds_our-democracy-is-not-a-product-but-a-con_3020511.png) > “Our democracy is not a product but a continual process. It is preserved not by monuments but deeds. Sometimes it needs refining; sometimes it needs amending; sometimes it needs defending. Always, it needs improving.” [Lee H. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-h-hamilton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy requires ongoing action, not static symbols; it must be refined, amended, defended, and improved. **In simple terms:** Democracy is a continuous process needing active upkeep. Key Takeaway Participate in democratic improvement. Themes democracy process citizenship improvement Mood serious hopeful Type political motivational When to use this quote - voting - policy advocacy - community meetings - legislative reform Key Concepts political theory civic engagement Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens effectively refine democracy? - What role do monuments play today? A Different Perspective Progress can be slow and contested. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Product](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-product-2074583/) [Improving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improving/) [Monument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monument/) [Monuments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monuments/) [Monuments Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monuments-deeds-4887182/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Needs Defending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs-defending-2340371/) [Needs Improving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs-improving-3426006/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) ## Related quotes > [Democracy is the product of human thought and reasoning. It's true that philosophers and thinkers have always imagined a utopia in which everything is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simin-behbahani/democracy-is-the-product-of-human-thought-and-reasoning-it-s-true/) [Simin Behbahani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simin-behbahani/) > [I don't think San Francisco needs defending. I never meet anyone who doesn't love the place, Americans or others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/i-don-t-think-san-francisco-needs-defending-i-never-meet-anyone-who/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [My work in the final third is something that needs improving, for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-wan-bissaka/my-work-in-the-final-third-is-something-that-needs-improving-for-me/) [Aaron Wan-Bissaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-wan-bissaka/) > [With monuments as with men, position means everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/with-monuments-as-with-men-position-means-everything/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [We hence acquire this sublime and interesting idea; that all the calcareous mountains in the world, and all the strata of clay, coal, marl,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erasmus-darwin/we-hence-acquire-this-sublime-and-interesting-idea-that-all-the/) [Erasmus Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erasmus-darwin/) > [Monuments and archaeological pieces serve as testimonies of man's greatness and establish a dialogue between civilizations showing the extent to which human beings are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-fox/monuments-and-archaeological-pieces-serve-as-testimonies-of-man-s/) [Vicente Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-fox/) > [Monuments obtain their full worth through their complete use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangelos-venizelos/monuments-obtain-their-full-worth-through-their-complete-use/) [Evangelos Venizelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangelos-venizelos/) > [A contempt of the monuments and the wisdom of the past, may be justly reckoned one of the reigning follies of these days, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/a-contempt-of-the-monuments-and-the-wisdom-of-the-past-may-be-justly/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Monuments may be builded to express the affection or pride of friends, or to display their wealth, but they are only valuable for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/monuments-may-be-builded-to-express-the-affection-or-pride-of-friends/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [What the masses want are monuments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-drapeau/what-the-masses-want-are-monuments/) [Jean Drapeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-drapeau/) > [The most fitting monuments this nation can build are schoolhouses and homes for those who do the work of the world. It is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/the-most-fitting-monuments-this-nation-can-build-are-schoolhouses-and/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [People are quick to make monuments of anything they live long enough to control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/people-are-quick-to-make-monuments-of-anything-they-live-long-enough/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) > [People who worship only themselves get a slick, polished look -- like monuments. Too bad they had to go so soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanna-bonta/people-who-worship-only-themselves-get-a-slick-polished-look-like/) [Vanna Bonta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanna-bonta/) > [Labor should not be about creating monuments on hills or statues in parks. Labor's monuments and statues are when a young person can find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shorten/labor-should-not-be-about-creating-monuments-on-hills-or-statues-in/) [Bill Shorten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shorten/) > [Our public monuments are memorials to the Enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/our-public-monuments-are-memorials-to-the-enlightenment/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) ## More by Lee H. Hamilton > [President George W. Bush is the first American president to call openly for two-states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-h-hamilton/president-george-w-bush-is-the-first-american-president-to-call/) [Lee H. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-h-hamilton/) > [The U.S has acquired reservoirs of goodwill around the globe over many years. But it is clear - from polling data and ample anecdotal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-h-hamilton/the-u-s-has-acquired-reservoirs-of-goodwill-around-the-globe-over/) [Lee H. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-h-hamilton/) > [But in the end our government usually - not unfailingly - is responsive to the people; and usually - not always - will try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-h-hamilton/but-in-the-end-our-government-usually-not-unfailingly-is-responsive/) [Lee H. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-h-hamilton/) > [Democracy makes us articulate our views, defend them, and refine them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-h-hamilton/democracy-makes-us-articulate-our-views-defend-them-and-refine-them/) [Lee H. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-h-hamilton/) > [The temptations are great to simply retreat to the domain of private life and give up on our public problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-h-hamilton/the-temptations-are-great-to-simply-retreat-to-the-domain-of-private/) [Lee H. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-h-hamilton/) > [We should insist that governments receiving American aid live up to standards of accountability and transparency, and we should support countries that embrace market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-h-hamilton/we-should-insist-that-governments-receiving-american-aid-live-up-to/) [Lee H. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-h-hamilton/) > [Addressing global resentment cannot be put off. If we do not learn to use our predominant power with great restraint, we will antagonize the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-h-hamilton/addressing-global-resentment-cannot-be-put-off-if-we-do-not-learn-to/) [Lee H. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-h-hamilton/) > [Aid can work where there is good governance, and usually fails where governments are unable or unwilling to commit aid to improve the lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-h-hamilton/aid-can-work-where-there-is-good-governance-and-usually-fails-where/) [Lee H. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-h-hamilton/) > [Protecting Americans from nuclear terrorism rises above politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-h-hamilton/protecting-americans-from-nuclear-terrorism-rises-above-politics/) [Lee H. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-h-hamilton/) > [Foreign aid is neither a failure nor a panacea. It is, instead, an important tool of American policy that can serve the interests of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-h-hamilton/foreign-aid-is-neither-a-failure-nor-a-panacea-it-is-instead-an/) [Lee H. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-h-hamilton/) > [“...the Constitution is an invitation for the president and Congress to struggle for the privilege of directing foreign policy. Although the president is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-h-hamilton/the-constitution-is-an-invitation-for-the-president-and-congress-to/) [Lee H. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-h-hamilton/) > [The U.S. should support the historic Gaza withdrawal as a first step toward a final settlement: a permanent Palestinian state in Gaza and nearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-h-hamilton/the-u-s-should-support-the-historic-gaza-withdrawal-as-a-first-step/) [Lee H. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-h-hamilton/) > [China's ability to deliver nuclear warheads on American cities is expanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-h-hamilton/china-s-ability-to-deliver-nuclear-warheads-on-american-cities-is/) [Lee H. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-h-hamilton/) > [Putting together a counter- terrorism policy, it's very easy to look at law enforcement or defense, military action or stopping the money flows or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-h-hamilton/putting-together-a-counter-terrorism-policy-it-s-very-easy-to-look-at/) [Lee H. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-h-hamilton/) > [U.S. officials and outside experts agree that China is undertaking a comprehensive modernization of its military. The Chinese military has gotten smaller but smarter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-h-hamilton/u-s-officials-and-outside-experts-agree-that-china-is-undertaking-a/) [Lee H. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-h-hamilton/) [Explore all 29 Lee H. Hamilton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-h-hamilton/) ## More Deeds quotes > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [When Allah puts barakah (His blessings) in something, it will come beyond your expectations- never underestimate the power of one good deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/when-allah-puts-barakah-his-blessings-in-something-it-will-come/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [Time often serves to justify a deed which seems at first unjustifiable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-p-ryan/time-often-serves-to-justify-a-deed-which-seems-at-first-unjustifiable/) [Donald P. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-p-ryan/) > [When deeds speak, words are nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/when-deeds-speak-words-are-nothing/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) > [Somehow, what's in our hearts, good or bad is eventually translated into words and deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/somehow-what-s-in-our-hearts-good-or-bad-is-eventually-translated/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [Honest people don't hide their deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/honest-people-don-t-hide-their-deeds/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [Mechanical instruments, potentially a vehicle of rational human purposes, are scarcely a blessing when they enable the gossip of the village idiot and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/mechanical-instruments-potentially-a-vehicle-of-rational-human/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [Tis e'er the wont of simple folk to prize the deed and o'erlook the motive, and of learned folk to discount the deed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/tis-e-er-the-wont-of-simple-folk-to-prize-the-deed-and-o-erlook-the/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) > [How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds makes ill deeds done!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/how-oft-the-sight-of-means-to-do-ill-deeds-makes-ill-deeds-done/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A nation of character is filled with citizens who gradually build lives based on the living awareness that their deeds are judged by eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/a-nation-of-character-is-filled-with-citizens-who-gradually-build/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [Time, which wears down and diminishes all things, augments and increases good deeds, because a good turn liberally offered to a reasonable man grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/time-which-wears-down-and-diminishes-all-things-augments-and/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [I rejoice that the reign of Christ is such, while it thrills the soul with emotions, and opens before the highest intellect the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-simpson/i-rejoice-that-the-reign-of-christ-is-such-while-it-thrills-the-soul/) [Matthew Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-simpson/) > [The final estimate of men shows that history cares not an iota for the rank or title a man has borne, or the office…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/the-final-estimate-of-men-shows-that-history-cares-not-an-iota-for/) [J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/) > [The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-s-a-printing-house-our-words-our-thoughts-our-deeds-are/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) [Browse all 2,029 Deeds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our democracy is not a product but a continual process. It is preserved not by monuments but deeds. Sometimes it needs refining; sometimes it needs amending; sometimes it needs defending. Always, it needs improving.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lee H. 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