--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A democrat must be utterly selfless. He…" description: "\"A democrat must be utterly selfless. He must think and dream not in terms of self or of party, but only of democracy.\" — Mahatma Gandhi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/mahatma-gandhi-23_democracy_a-democrat-must-be-utterly-selfless-he-m_1397989.jpg" --- # A democrat must be utterly selfless. He must think and… ![“A democrat must be utterly selfless. He must think and dream not in terms of self or of party, but only of democracy.” quote by Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/mahatma-gandhi-23_democracy_a-democrat-must-be-utterly-selfless-he-m_1397989.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/mahatma-gandhi-23_democracy_a-democrat-must-be-utterly-selfless-he-m_1397989.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/mahatma-gandhi-23_democracy_a-democrat-must-be-utterly-selfless-he-m_1397989.jpg) > “A democrat must be utterly selfless. He must think and dream not in terms of self or of party, but only of democracy.” [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A true democrat puts the collective good above personal or partisan interests, embodying selflessness for democracy's sake. **In simple terms:** Democracy requires selfless dedication. Key Takeaway Prioritize community over self. Themes selflessness democracy leadership Mood reflective inspirational Type ethical political When to use this quote - political activism - community organizing - public service Key Concepts collectivism altruism Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice selflessness in politics? - What sacrifices does democracy demand? A Different Perspective Self-interest can undermine democratic ideals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Selfless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfless/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [When you have a child, you really understand what it means to love, to have something to be selfless for. I think that elevates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omarion/when-you-have-a-child-you-really-understand-what-it-means-to-love-to/) [Omarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omarion/) > [The membership survey was a great moment for inner-party democracy. We can't go back, nor do we want to. Our members are pouring their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/the-membership-survey-was-a-great-moment-for-inner-party-democracy-we/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [“SELFLESS LOVE. If you have a special person in your life, but you find yourselves arguing, irritated and/or fighting out of the blue… you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/selfless-love-if-you-have-a-special-person-in-your-life-but-you-find/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [Western-style multi-party democracy is possible but not suitable for Africa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ayittey/western-style-multi-party-democracy-is-possible-but-not-suitable-for/) [George Ayittey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ayittey/) > [We know from the company we hired, Kraus Stripe , that there was Russian involvement in this to destabilize not just our institution, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/we-know-from-the-company-we-hired-kraus-stripe-that-there-was-russian/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [I've never understood multi-party democracy. It's hard enough with two parties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-ve-never-understood-multi-party-democracy-it-s-hard-enough-with-two/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Every nation has its war party. It is not the party of democracy. It is the party of autocracy. It seeks to dominate absolutely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-la-follette-sr/every-nation-has-its-war-party-it-is-not-the-party-of-democracy-it-is/) [Robert M. La Follette, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-la-follette-sr/) > [Almost every country in Africa has now instituted multi-party democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-ibrahim/almost-every-country-in-africa-has-now-instituted-multi-party/) [Mo Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-ibrahim/) > [Simon Wiesenthal told me that any political party in a democracy that uses the word 'freedom' in its name is either Nazi or Communist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-wiesenthal/simon-wiesenthal-told-me-that-any-political-party-in-a-democracy-that/) [Simon Wiesenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-wiesenthal/) > [In a multi-party democracy, many issues which you want - or do not want - will be raised. 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I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Devotion required by the Gita is no soft-hearted effusiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/devotion-required-by-the-gita-is-no-soft-hearted-effusiveness/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [So long as we fear the outside world, we must cease to think of Swaraj.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/so-long-as-we-fear-the-outside-world-we-must-cease-to-think-of-swaraj/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I do not want a kingdom, or heaven; what I want is to remove the trouble of the oppressed, the poor, and the needy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-a-kingdom-or-heaven-what-i-want-is-to-remove-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Religions are not for separating men from one another, they are meant to bind them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/religions-are-not-for-separating-men-from-one-another-they-are-meant/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I hold flesh-food to be unsuited to our species. We err in copying the lower animal world if we are superior to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-hold-flesh-food-to-be-unsuited-to-our-species-we-err-in-copying-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was only in South Africa that I got over this shyness, though I never completely overcame it. It was impossible for me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/it-was-only-in-south-africa-that-i-got-over-this-shyness-though-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Where there is life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/where-there-is-life/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [If it was wrong to seek God in a stone, how was it right to seek Him in a book called the Gita, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/if-it-was-wrong-to-seek-god-in-a-stone-how-was-it-right-to-seek-him/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The spirit of democracy cannot be established in the midst of terrorism, whether governmental or popular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-spirit-of-democracy-cannot-be-established-in-the-midst-of/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Champions are made from something they have deep inside of them-a desire, a dream, a vison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/champions-are-made-from-something-they-have-deep-inside-of-them-a/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [My motto is "Unite now, today if you can; fight if you must. But in every case avoid British intervention."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/my-motto-is-unite-now-today-if-you-can-fight-if-you-must-but-in-every/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I have no disciples, being myself an aspirant after discipleship and in search of a guru.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-have-no-disciples-being-myself-an-aspirant-after-discipleship-and/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Man becomes not the lord and master of all creation but he is its servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/man-becomes-not-the-lord-and-master-of-all-creation-but-he-is-its/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) [Explore all 3,284 Mahatma Gandhi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. 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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. 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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": "A democrat must be utterly selfless. 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