--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must make our choice. We may have…" description: "\"“We must make our choice. We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we cannot have both.”\" — Louis D. Brandeis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e51/louis-d-brandeis-5049_choice_we-must-make-our-choice-we-may-have-demo_823544.png" --- # We must make our choice. We may have democracy, or we may… ![“We must make our choice. We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we cannot have both.” quote by Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e51/louis-d-brandeis-5049_choice_we-must-make-our-choice-we-may-have-demo_823544.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e51/louis-d-brandeis-5049_choice_we-must-make-our-choice-we-may-have-demo_823544.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e51/louis-d-brandeis-5049_choice_we-must-make-our-choice-we-may-have-demo_823544.png) > ““We must make our choice. We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we cannot have both.”” [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing between broad political participation and extreme economic inequality; you cannot fully have both democracy and concentrated wealth. **In simple terms:** Democracy and wealth concentration are mutually exclusive. Key Takeaway Prioritize political equality over wealth concentration. Themes democracy wealth inequality political philosophy Mood concerned reflective Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy debates - voting reforms - wealth taxation - civic education Key Concepts social contract economic power public good Questions to Reflect On - How can societies protect democratic rights while allowing economic prosperity? - What policies can reduce wealth concentration without stifling innovation? A Different Perspective Balancing economic growth with democratic health is complex and may require compromise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) ## Related quotes > [“We must make our choice. 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Everyday prepare for your chance to find opportunity and never fear change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/make-a-choice-everyday-prepare-for-your-chance-to-find-opportunity/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [Life is simple, you make a choice and dont look back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-simple-you-make-a-choice-and-dont-look-back/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You must make a choice to take a chance or your life will never change...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-must-make-a-choice-to-take-a-chance-or-your-life-will-never-change/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every decision I make is a choice between a grievance and a miracle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/every-decision-i-make-is-a-choice-between-a-grievance-and-a-miracle/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [You can't be said to make a choice when you only have one option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henci-goer/you-can-t-be-said-to-make-a-choice-when-you-only-have-one-option/) [Henci Goer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henci-goer/) > [You make choice's about your life if you want to life or die sometimes I think I feel like dying because know one care's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skrillex/you-make-choice-s-about-your-life-if-you-want-to-life-or-die/) [Skrillex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skrillex/) > [Ranked Choice Voting is simple, empowers voters, and rewards candidates who broaden support beyond their base.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-phillips/ranked-choice-voting-is-simple-empowers-voters-and-rewards-candidates/) [Dean Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-phillips/) > [The dignity of man is in free choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-frisch/the-dignity-of-man-is-in-free-choice/) [Max Frisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-frisch/) > [“You can survive alone, or you can \*live\* together. I know which option William would chose—has chosen,” he said, shaking me as if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/you-can-survive-alone-or-you-can-live-together-i-know-which-option/) [Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/) > [Life is not complicated we make it It's your choice to cry for it or fight for it :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jraj/life-is-not-complicated-we-make-it-it-s-your-choice-to-cry-for-it-or/) [Jraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jraj/) ## More by Louis D. Brandeis > [Men feared witches and burned women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/men-feared-witches-and-burned-women/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [The goose that lays golden eggs has been considered a most valuable possession. But even more profitable is the privilege of taking the golden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/the-goose-that-lays-golden-eggs-has-been-considered-a-most-valuable/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Fear of serious injury cannot alone justify suppression of free speech and assembly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/fear-of-serious-injury-cannot-alone-justify-suppression-of-free/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [We gain nothing by trading the tyranny of capital for the tyranny of labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/we-gain-nothing-by-trading-the-tyranny-of-capital-for-the-tyranny-of/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the Government's purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/experience-should-teach-us-to-be-most-on-our-guard-to-protect-liberty/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill it teaches the whole people by example. Crime is contagious. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/our-government-is-the-potent-the-omnipresent-teacher-for-good-or-for/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [What are the American ideals? They are the development of the individual for his own and the common good; the development of the individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/what-are-the-american-ideals-they-are-the-development-of-the/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/most-of-the-things-worth-doing-in-the-world-had-been-declared/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [What I have desired to do is to make the people of Boston realize that the most important office, and the one which all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/what-i-have-desired-to-do-is-to-make-the-people-of-boston-realize/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/if-we-desire-respect-for-the-law-we-must-first-make-the-law/) [Louis D. 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Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [Let no American imagine that Zionism is inconsistent with patriotism. Multiple loyalties are objectionable only if they are inconsistent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/let-no-american-imagine-that-zionism-is-inconsistent-with-patriotism/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [“The protection guaranteed by the Amendments is much broader in scope. The makers of our Constitution undertook to secure conditions favorable to the pursuit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/the-protection-guaranteed-by-the-amendments-is-much-broader-in-scope/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) [Explore all 104 Louis D. Brandeis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) Randy C. 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