--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes, when democracy has to fight…" description: "\"Sometimes, when democracy has to fight with autocracy, what can be done? We have to fight; somebody has to.\" — Mamata Banerjee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/451/mamata-banerjee-16469_autocracy_sometimes-when-democracy-has-to-fight-wi_2695406.jpg" --- # Sometimes, when democracy has to fight with autocracy… ![“Sometimes, when democracy has to fight with autocracy, what can be done? We have to fight; somebody has to.” quote by Mamata Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/451/mamata-banerjee-16469_autocracy_sometimes-when-democracy-has-to-fight-wi_2695406.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/451/mamata-banerjee-16469_autocracy_sometimes-when-democracy-has-to-fight-wi_2695406.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/451/mamata-banerjee-16469_autocracy_sometimes-when-democracy-has-to-fight-wi_2695406.jpg) > “Sometimes, when democracy has to fight with autocracy, what can be done? We have to fight; somebody has to.” [Mamata Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mamata-banerjee/) ## 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 actively resist autocratic threats; inaction is not an option. **In simple terms:** Democracy must fight autocracy. Key Takeaway Take decisive action against authoritarianism. Themes democracy politics resistance Mood determined urgent Type political motivational When to use this quote - elections - policy advocacy - public protests - community organizing Key Concepts authoritarianism civic duty political engagement Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens stay engaged when fear rises? - What strategies protect democratic institutions? A Different Perspective Resistance can be limited by repression and public apathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autocracy/) [Autocracy Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autocracy-fight-2691027/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-fight-1002150/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight/) [Fight Autocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight-autocracy-2691025/) [Fight Somebody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight-somebody-470427/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) ## Related quotes > [Do you think I wouldn't go somewhere to fight somebody... Bro, my second fight with the UFC was where? Nah, it was in China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-holland/do-you-think-i-wouldn-t-go-somewhere-to-fight-somebody-bro-my-second/) [Kevin Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-holland/) > [We must renew democracy itself. We have to fight cynicism and inertia and restore faith in the advancement of our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wellstone/we-must-renew-democracy-itself-we-have-to-fight-cynicism-and-inertia/) [Paul Wellstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wellstone/) > [The Republicans abandoned the pretext of democracy to fight a war for power long ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/the-republicans-abandoned-the-pretext-of-democracy-to-fight-a-war-for/) [Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/) > [You have these rap groups talking about 'Fight The Power' and that kind of stuff. What do they mean by that? Fight democracy? Fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/you-have-these-rap-groups-talking-about-fight-the-power-and-that-kind/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) > [There is a tendency in any conflict, especially in a democracy, to fight the enemy you can, not the enemy you should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-baer/there-is-a-tendency-in-any-conflict-especially-in-a-democracy-to/) [Robert Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-baer/) > [We will not be intimidated or pushed off the world stage by people who do not like what we stand for, and that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/we-will-not-be-intimidated-or-pushed-off-the-world-stage-by-people/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [The government may change faces from time to time, but it's not like we fight wars for democracy - we fight wars for capitalism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/the-government-may-change-faces-from-time-to-time-but-it-s-not-like/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [Donald Trump is out to destroy people's lives, and he's trying to take our democracy down. That is something we can fight with everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-hodges/donald-trump-is-out-to-destroy-people-s-lives-and-he-s-trying-to-take/) [Betsy Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-hodges/) > [Motivation is a huge thing in fighting. If you're not motivated to fight somebody, it's going to be a bad fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-fitch/motivation-is-a-huge-thing-in-fighting-if-you-re-not-motivated-to/) [Jon Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-fitch/) > [I'll fight somebody in my backyard for free, just to see if I'm better than him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-liddell/i-ll-fight-somebody-in-my-backyard-for-free-just-to-see-if-i-m-better/) [Chuck Liddell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-liddell/) > [The purpose of the pistol is to stop a fight that somebody else has started, almost always at very short range.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-purpose-of-the-pistol-is-to-stop-a-fight-that-somebody-else-has/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [I am comfortable with myself, and this is how I am. I am not really interested in having an acrimonious fight with somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-behar/i-am-comfortable-with-myself-and-this-is-how-i-am-i-am-not-really/) [Joy Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-behar/) > [When I was growing up, there was always somebody who wanted to pick a fight with me. I'd say, I'm not a famous boxer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gibbons/when-i-was-growing-up-there-was-always-somebody-who-wanted-to-pick-a/) [Richard Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gibbons/) > [When you fight somebody who no one knows and don't recognize their name, it doesn't matter how bad you beat them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-fitch/when-you-fight-somebody-who-no-one-knows-and-don-t-recognize-their/) [Jon Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-fitch/) > [He looks like he could be taken in a fight. Not by me, but by somebody. Not anyone in Humanities, probably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/he-looks-like-he-could-be-taken-in-a-fight-not-by-me-but-by-somebody/) [Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/) ## More by Mamata Banerjee > [We welcome the Election Commission's announcement of a five-phase poll in the state. We will abide by all the guidelines and directives issued by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mamata-banerjee/we-welcome-the-election-commission-s-announcement-of-a-five-phase/) [Mamata Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mamata-banerjee/) > [I don't want to be a VIP. I want to be an LIP, a Less Important Person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mamata-banerjee/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-vip-i-want-to-be-an-lip-a-less-important-person/) [Mamata Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mamata-banerjee/) > [If democracy is finished, all is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mamata-banerjee/if-democracy-is-finished-all-is-lost/) [Mamata Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mamata-banerjee/) > [I never supported violence. Before the formation of TMC, I was a member of the Congress Party. Gandhi's Congress. Non-violence is a philosophy that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mamata-banerjee/i-never-supported-violence-before-the-formation-of-tmc-i-was-a-member/) [Mamata Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mamata-banerjee/) > [After my father died, we faced hardship but never asked anybody for help. 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At the national level, for the greater good, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mamata-banerjee/in-bengal-at-the-state-level-the-congress-and-left-are-working-with/) [Mamata Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mamata-banerjee/) > [I think that communalism is the cancer of our society, and if we have to protect the humanity and the unity and integrity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mamata-banerjee/i-think-that-communalism-is-the-cancer-of-our-society-and-if-we-have/) [Mamata Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mamata-banerjee/) [Explore all 39 Mamata Banerjee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mamata-banerjee/) ## More Autocracy quotes > [Orthodox churches, autocracy and national traditions are supposed to form a new national ideology in Russia. This would mean that Russia would be overtaken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-sorokin/orthodox-churches-autocracy-and-national-traditions-are-supposed-to/) [Vladimir Sorokin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-sorokin/) > [The memoirs of the Grand Duchess Olga are an entertaining record for anyone interested in the imperial family's home life during the last years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sebag-montefiore/the-memoirs-of-the-grand-duchess-olga-are-an-entertaining-record-for/) [Simon Sebag Montefiore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sebag-montefiore/) > [“The Chinese state, from the days of the Qin, was an efficient, bureaucratized autocracy. Yet to this day, China has never developed the rule…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-wade/the-chinese-state-from-the-days-of-the-qin-was-an-efficient/) [Nicholas Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-wade/) > [“Democracy in books is, for the people, by the people, democracy on street is rule of the apes in a land of sheep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/democracy-in-books-is-for-the-people-by-the-people-democracy-on/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“As long as the United States remains a democracy, I want to be in the ideological fight against illiberal nationalism and continue to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcfaul/as-long-as-the-united-states-remains-a-democracy-i-want-to-be-in-the/) [Michael McFaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcfaul/) > [The Kingdom of Heaven is a military autocracy and there is no public opinion in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/the-kingdom-of-heaven-is-a-military-autocracy-and-there-is-no-public/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [Trump wants to be an autocrat, he does want to be a Vladimir Putin-style ruler. His chief strategic advisor, Steve Bannon, is a follower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-wrightson-nance/trump-wants-to-be-an-autocrat-he-does-want-to-be-a-vladimir-putin/) [Malcolm Wrightson Nance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-wrightson-nance/) > [In an autocracy, one person has his way; in an aristocracy, a few people have their way; in a democracy, no one has his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-green/in-an-autocracy-one-person-has-his-way-in-an-aristocracy-a-few-people/) [Celia Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-green/) > [The deadliest foe of democracy is not autocracy but liberty frenzied. Liberty is not foolproof. For its beneficent working it demands self-restraint, a sane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-hermann-kahn/the-deadliest-foe-of-democracy-is-not-autocracy-but-liberty-frenzied/) [Otto Hermann Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-hermann-kahn/) > [The Chinese, as befits a Communist autocracy, approached the task of dominating the Olympics with top-down military discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shashi-tharoor/the-chinese-as-befits-a-communist-autocracy-approached-the-task-of/) [Shashi Tharoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shashi-tharoor/) > [I know a whole generation has been raised on the notion of multiculturalism; that all civilizations are just different. No! Not always. Sometimes things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-know-a-whole-generation-has-been-raised-on-the-notion-of/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [A government with all this mass of favours to give or to withhold, however free in name, wields a power of bribery scarcely surpassed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-government-with-all-this-mass-of-favours-to-give-or-to-withhold/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The old vicious cycle of empires threatened to repeat itself, the old story of the many led by the few. Always it had come,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roberts-rinehart/the-old-vicious-cycle-of-empires-threatened-to-repeat-itself-the-old/) [Mary Roberts Rinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roberts-rinehart/) > [“The only way, they argued, to prevent a revolution was to rule Russia with an iron hand. This meant defending the autocratic principle, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orlando-figes/the-only-way-they-argued-to-prevent-a-revolution-was-to-rule-russia/) [Orlando Figes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orlando-figes/) > [As so often before, liberty has been wounded in the house of its friends. Liberty in the wild and freakish hands of fanatics has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-hermann-kahn/as-so-often-before-liberty-has-been-wounded-in-the-house-of-its/) [Otto Hermann Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-hermann-kahn/) [Browse all 59 Autocracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autocracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes, when democracy has to fight with autocracy, what can be done? 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