--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we fail now, we shall have forgotten…" description: "\"“If we fail now, we shall have forgotten in abundance what we learned in hardship: that democracy rests on faith, that freedom asks more than it gives,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/636/lyndon-b-johnson-684_democracy_if-we-fail-now-we-shall-have-forgotten-i_566419.png" --- # If we fail now, we shall have forgotten in abundance what… ![“If we fail now, we shall have forgotten in abundance what we learned in hardship: that democracy rests on faith, that freedom asks more than it gives, and that the judgment of God is harshest on those who are most favored.” quote by Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/636/lyndon-b-johnson-684_democracy_if-we-fail-now-we-shall-have-forgotten-i_566419.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/636/lyndon-b-johnson-684_democracy_if-we-fail-now-we-shall-have-forgotten-i_566419.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/636/lyndon-b-johnson-684_democracy_if-we-fail-now-we-shall-have-forgotten-i_566419.png) > ““If we fail now, we shall have forgotten in abundance what we learned in hardship: that democracy rests on faith, that freedom asks more than it gives, and that the judgment of God is harshest on those who are most favored.”” [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hardship teaches that democracy needs belief, freedom demands sacrifice, and privileged people face the toughest divine judgment. **In simple terms:** Hardship shows democracy needs faith, freedom costs, and the favored are judged harshly. Key Takeaway Recognize the cost of freedom and stay humble. Themes democracy faith freedom justice Mood reflective serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political leadership - civil rights activism - community organizing - personal decision making Key Concepts social contract moral responsibility divine judgment Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance privilege with responsibility? - What sacrifices does true freedom require? A Different Perspective The quote may overstate divine judgment, which can be interpreted metaphorically rather than literally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Fail Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fail-shall-1176192/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Faith Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-freedom-720318/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Hardship Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardship-democracy-4501370/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Learned Hardship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-hardship-638798/) [Rests Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rests-faith-1038179/) ## Related quotes > [If we fail now, then we will have forgotten in abundance what we learned in hardship: that democracy rests on faith; freedom asks more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/if-we-fail-now-then-we-will-have-forgotten-in-abundance-what-we/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Coming from N.Y.C., I learned that with every hardship that you face, things are always going to get better once you put your mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-weah/coming-from-n-y-c-i-learned-that-with-every-hardship-that-you-face/) [Timothy Weah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-weah/) > [Science is paramount, but presents no challenge to a creed that rests on faith-based belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-silk/science-is-paramount-but-presents-no-challenge-to-a-creed-that-rests/) [Joseph Silk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-silk/) > [The most pressing question on the problem of faith is whether a man as a civilized being can believe in the divinity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/the-most-pressing-question-on-the-problem-of-faith-is-whether-a-man/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Belief doesn't rest on proof or existence...it rests on faith...without faith there is nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/belief-doesn-t-rest-on-proof-or-existence-it-rests-on-faith-without/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [Our victory rests not on faith in our spirituality. Our victory rests on faith in our God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/our-victory-rests-not-on-faith-in-our-spirituality-our-victory-rests/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [To overcome fear, act as if it were impossible to fail, and it shall be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/to-overcome-fear-act-as-if-it-were-impossible-to-fail-and-it-shall-be/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [If I fail, I shall fail; only to succeed. Therefore If I fail, I shall fail; only to achieve. Its a mere stumble -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uri-l-theunis/if-i-fail-i-shall-fail-only-to-succeed-therefore-if-i-fail-i-shall/) [Uriël Theunis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uri-l-theunis/) > [We shall not flag nor fail. 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Freedom of speech means speaking against the wrong and not against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hqlinesme/freedom-of-speech-does-not-mean-disgusting-and-disrespecting-someone/) [HQLinesme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hqlinesme/) ## More by Lyndon B. Johnson > [There is something more important than any ultimate weapon. That is the ultimate position-the position of total control over Earth that lies somewhere out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/there-is-something-more-important-than-any-ultimate-weapon-that-is/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Each year more than 100,000 high school graduates, with proved ability, do not enter college because they cannot afford it. And if we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/each-year-more-than-100-000-high-school-graduates-with-proved-ability/) [Lyndon B. 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