--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm for democracy, but imposing democracy…" description: "\"I'm for democracy, but imposing democracy is an oxymoron. People have to choose democracy, and it has to come up from below.\" — Madeleine Albright" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fab/madeleine-albright-1360_come-up_i-m-for-democracy-but-imposing-democracy_3230181.jpg" --- # I'm for democracy, but imposing democracy is an oxymoron… ![“I'm for democracy, but imposing democracy is an oxymoron. People have to choose democracy, and it has to come up from below.” quote by Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fab/madeleine-albright-1360_come-up_i-m-for-democracy-but-imposing-democracy_3230181.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fab/madeleine-albright-1360_come-up_i-m-for-democracy-but-imposing-democracy_3230181.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fab/madeleine-albright-1360_come-up_i-m-for-democracy-but-imposing-democracy_3230181.jpg) > “I'm for democracy, but imposing democracy is an oxymoron. People have to choose democracy, and it has to come up from below.” [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy must arise organically from people's choices, not be forced by external powers. **In simple terms:** Democracy should be chosen, not imposed. Key Takeaway Support grassroots participation. Themes politics self-determination governance Mood analytical concerned Type political inspirational When to use this quote - elections - community organizing - policy reform - international aid Key Concepts bottom‑up legitimacy citizen empowerment Questions to Reflect On - What conditions foster genuine democratic growth? - How can external actors aid without imposing? A Different Perspective Imposing democracy can backfire and breed resentment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Oxymoron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oxymoron/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [You know, this idea of going around the world imposing democracy by growing a middle-class, a trading merchant class that is independent of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/you-know-this-idea-of-going-around-the-world-imposing-democracy-by/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) > [Imposing democracy through force is a roll of the dice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-hagel/imposing-democracy-through-force-is-a-roll-of-the-dice/) [Chuck Hagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-hagel/) > [“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 > [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 Today, this year Nor ever Through compromise and fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/democracy-will-not-come-today-this-year-nor-ever-through-compromise/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [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/) > [instant opinion is an oxymoron. 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The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [No matter how hard we might wish, we will not be able to transform China's behavior overnight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/no-matter-how-hard-we-might-wish-we-will-not-be-able-to-transform/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [There are a lot of similar aspects in all the religions. The question is which side of it you hold up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/there-are-a-lot-of-similar-aspects-in-all-the-religions-the-question/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Whatever the job you are asked to do at whatever level, do a good job because your reputation is your resume.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/whatever-the-job-you-are-asked-to-do-at-whatever-level-do-a-good-job/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [I am often asked if, when I was secretary, I had problems with foreign men. 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