--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy for people who are not used to…" description: "\"Democracy for people who are not used to it can undermine stability, resulting in war.\" — Mahathir Mohamad" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/mahathir-mohamad-3562_democracy_democracy-for-people-who-are-not-used-to_1211646.png" --- # Democracy for people who are not used to it can undermine… ![“Democracy for people who are not used to it can undermine stability, resulting in war.” quote by Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/mahathir-mohamad-3562_democracy_democracy-for-people-who-are-not-used-to_1211646.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/mahathir-mohamad-3562_democracy_democracy-for-people-who-are-not-used-to_1211646.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/mahathir-mohamad-3562_democracy_democracy-for-people-who-are-not-used-to_1211646.png) > “Democracy for people who are not used to it can undermine stability, resulting in war.” [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Warns that imposing democracy on unprepared societies can destabilize them and lead to conflict. **In simple terms:** Democracy can cause instability if people aren't ready. Key Takeaway Introduce democratic reforms gradually. Themes politics stability democracy Mood cautious analytical Type political theoretical When to use this quote - post‑colonial nations - emerging economies - conflict zones - nation‑building Key Concepts social engineering political transition Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can prevent instability? - How to gauge societal readiness? A Different Perspective Democracy may still be beneficial despite risks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Stability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stability/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [In a democracy, people tend to get the kind of government they deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lanchester/in-a-democracy-people-tend-to-get-the-kind-of-government-they-deserve/) [John Lanchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lanchester/) > [You can't afford to hate politics. The politics of this country is democracy. Democracy is by the people, of the people and for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arvind-kejriwal/you-can-t-afford-to-hate-politics-the-politics-of-this-country-is/) [Arvind Kejriwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arvind-kejriwal/) > [If you continue to transfer the wealth of the population of the planet to a very small amount of people, it becomes untenable at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-you-continue-to-transfer-the-wealth-of-the-population-of-the/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [“Because we live in a democracy, and the people can't govern themselves well if they don't know the truth about the world we live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosslyn-elliott/because-we-live-in-a-democracy-and-the-people-can-t-govern-themselves/) [Rosslyn Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosslyn-elliott/) > [“Democracy is the name we give the people whenever we need them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-arman-de-caillavet/democracy-is-the-name-we-give-the-people-whenever-we-need-them/) Gaston Arman de Caillavet > [To safeguard democracy the people must have a keen sense of independence, self-respect, and their oneness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/to-safeguard-democracy-the-people-must-have-a-keen-sense-of-2/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“To safeguard democracy the people must have a keen sense of independence, self-respect and their oneness, and should insist upon choosing as their representatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/to-safeguard-democracy-the-people-must-have-a-keen-sense-of/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [You can't have a democracy when people don't learn to put themselves in the shoes of another person, who can't think what their policies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/you-can-t-have-a-democracy-when-people-don-t-learn-to-put-themselves/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [Our constitutional system is founded on democracy: the will of the people, not the unchecked rule of judges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-dewine/our-constitutional-system-is-founded-on-democracy-the-will-of-the/) [Mike DeWine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-dewine/) > [Americans are quite skeptical about the goal of promoting democracy. People feel it's a desirable goal, but, from a commonsense point of view, both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-yankelovich/americans-are-quite-skeptical-about-the-goal-of-promoting-democracy/) [Daniel Yankelovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-yankelovich/) > [If those people in power never made any mistakes, we'd be done for as a democracy. But people keep making mistakes. History is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zephyr-teachout/if-those-people-in-power-never-made-any-mistakes-we-d-be-done-for-as/) [Zephyr Teachout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zephyr-teachout/) > [In every democracy, it is the people's will that is supreme. We should translate the intense yearning of the people of India and Pakistan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-gandhi/in-every-democracy-it-is-the-people-s-will-that-is-supreme-we-should/) [Rajiv Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-gandhi/) > [In democracy, people's verdict is always final and we all have to accept it with humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/in-democracy-people-s-verdict-is-always-final-and-we-all-have-to/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [The whole idea of a democracy is that we ourselves, the people, are supposed to make a path of our politics, and it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-jarecki/the-whole-idea-of-a-democracy-is-that-we-ourselves-the-people-are/) [Eugene Jarecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-jarecki/) > [I'm fed up with democracy. In a democracy, people vote for the mayors. I wanted to build a city where I will choose the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emir-kusturica/i-m-fed-up-with-democracy-in-a-democracy-people-vote-for-the-mayors-i/) [Emir Kusturica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emir-kusturica/) ## More by Mahathir Mohamad > [I cannot keep quiet even when I am a lone voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/i-cannot-keep-quiet-even-when-i-am-a-lone-voice/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [The Internet is undermining moral values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/the-internet-is-undermining-moral-values/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [In Malaysia, trials have always been fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/in-malaysia-trials-have-always-been-fair/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [There are certain things that we can deal with by following the rules. But at times, we find the rules restrict you from doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/there-are-certain-things-that-we-can-deal-with-by-following-the-rules/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [A heretic can be tolerated. But a heresy cannot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/a-heretic-can-be-tolerated-but-a-heresy-cannot/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [The Malays are spiritually inclined, tolerant, and easy-going. The non-Malays, and especially the Chinese, are materialistic, aggressive, and have an appetite for work. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/the-malays-are-spiritually-inclined-tolerant-and-easy-going-the-non/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [Any organisation has a future, provided it is properly led and it sticks to the objective of that organisation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/any-organisation-has-a-future-provided-it-is-properly-led-and-it/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [In the eyes of the world, Malaysia has become a pariah state, a state where anyone can be hauled up and questioned by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/in-the-eyes-of-the-world-malaysia-has-become-a-pariah-state-a-state/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [I not only think but also look and study things carefully. When I travel around, I look at things carefully, make comparisons of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/i-not-only-think-but-also-look-and-study-things-carefully-when-i/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [Suppose a part of Britain or a part of America was taken away and given to the Jews as Israel. Do you think the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/suppose-a-part-of-britain-or-a-part-of-america-was-taken-away-and/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [When you have a prime minister who is corrupt, then you can be sure that a country cannot be anything else but corrupt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/when-you-have-a-prime-minister-who-is-corrupt-then-you-can-be-sure/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [I am the first authoritarian government elected to become a dictator and then resigning as a dictator. So this is the first dictator in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/i-am-the-first-authoritarian-government-elected-to-become-a-dictator/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [It would seem the people who want to preserve the Penans' way of life are condemning them to a life full of diseases and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/it-would-seem-the-people-who-want-to-preserve-the-penans-way-of-life/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [Once started, religious strife has a tendency to go on and on - to become permanent feuds. Today we see such intractable inter-religious wars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/once-started-religious-strife-has-a-tendency-to-go-on-and-on-to/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [Membership of an organisation is good, as long as you can make yourself heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/membership-of-an-organisation-is-good-as-long-as-you-can-make/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) [Explore all 126 Mahathir Mohamad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 11,220 Democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Democracy for people who are not used to it can undermine stability, resulting in war.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mahathir Mohamad" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/democracy-for-people-who-are-not-used-to-it-can-undermine-stability/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Democracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/democracy-for-people-who-are-not-used-to-it-can-undermine-stability/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/mahathir-mohamad-3562_democracy_democracy-for-people-who-are-not-used-to_1211646.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/mahathir-mohamad-3562_democracy_democracy-for-people-who-are-not-used-to_1211646.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/mahathir-mohamad-3562_democracy_democracy-for-people-who-are-not-used-to_1211646.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Democracy for people who are not used to it can undermine stability, resulting in war.” — Mahathir Mohamad", "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": "Mahathir Mohamad", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Democracy for people who are not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/democracy-for-people-who-are-not-used-to-it-can-undermine-stability/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/democracy-for-people-who-are-not-used-to-it-can-undermine-stability/#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 } } ] } ```