--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't have a democracy when people…" description: "\"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 mean for other..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/252/martha-nussbaum-4759_democracy_you-can-t-have-a-democracy-when-people-d_549554.jpg" --- # You can't have a democracy when people don't learn to put… ![“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 mean for others.” quote by Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/252/martha-nussbaum-4759_democracy_you-can-t-have-a-democracy-when-people-d_549554.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/252/martha-nussbaum-4759_democracy_you-can-t-have-a-democracy-when-people-d_549554.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/252/martha-nussbaum-4759_democracy_you-can-t-have-a-democracy-when-people-d_549554.jpg) > “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 mean for others.” [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy fails without empathy; people must understand others' perspectives to create fair policies. **In simple terms:** Empathy is essential for democracy. Key Takeaway Cultivate perspective‑taking. Themes politics empathy democracy Mood thoughtful critical Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy making - education - community dialogue - leadership - civic engagement Key Concepts ethical reasoning social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can empathy be taught? - What policies reflect empathy? A Different Perspective Empathy is hard to teach. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [ I think the policies, for the most part, that \[Hillary Clinton\] will put in place are not going to make positive changes. There'll be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/i-think-the-policies-for-the-most-part-that-hillary-clinton-will-put/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [When I think about some of the policies that we make in this country, the policies are so self-driven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/when-i-think-about-some-of-the-policies-that-we-make-in-this-country/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [In general, I think, U.S. policies remain constant, going back to the Second World War. But the capacity to implement them is declining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/in-general-i-think-u-s-policies-remain-constant-going-back-to-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [In reality, I don't think that many of the policies we've attempted to apply to deal with it are going to have any serious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-eldridge-odom/in-reality-i-don-t-think-that-many-of-the-policies-we-ve-attempted-to/) William Eldridge Odom > [Honestly, I don't think that the policies and issues surrounding guns will be easily figured out in our country, but we need to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-maitland/honestly-i-don-t-think-that-the-policies-and-issues-surrounding-guns/) [Keith Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-maitland/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Martha Nussbaum > [I worked among many famous philosophers, and I tried to observe how they treated students. I knew which ones I wanted to be like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/i-worked-among-many-famous-philosophers-and-i-tried-to-observe-how/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [All of us, whether we are ignorant of philosophy or professors of philosophy, find it easier to follow dogma than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/all-of-us-whether-we-are-ignorant-of-philosophy-or-professors-of/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [I think Americans did learn that you just are not going to be able to live well if you subordinate people on the grounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/i-think-americans-did-learn-that-you-just-are-not-going-to-be-able-to/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [I wish a person with a record of competence such as Nitish Kumar would get a chance to lead India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/i-wish-a-person-with-a-record-of-competence-such-as-nitish-kumar/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [I wouldn't express anything without being very thoughtful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/i-wouldn-t-express-anything-without-being-very-thoughtful/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [When I was four I joined a group of girls who were talking about their party dresses. I thought they were imagining, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/when-i-was-four-i-joined-a-group-of-girls-who-were-talking-about/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [There were several men who had blazed the trail for talking about emotions in philosophy; otherwise my work would have had even more opposition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/there-were-several-men-who-had-blazed-the-trail-for-talking-about/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [Emotions aren't just mindless urges; they contain thoughts about matters of importance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/emotions-aren-t-just-mindless-urges-they-contain-thoughts-about/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [If you've been betrayed by a spouse or a partner, it's much easier to focus on causing that person pain than it is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/if-you-ve-been-betrayed-by-a-spouse-or-a-partner-it-s-much-easier-to/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [People - and I think this is particularly true of Americans - don't like to be passive. They like to seize control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/people-and-i-think-this-is-particularly-true-of-americans-don-t-like/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [Fear and monarchy pair nicely. But democracy means you have to work with people you may not like but you must still believe are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/fear-and-monarchy-pair-nicely-but-democracy-means-you-have-to-work/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [You have to connect your work to what people are doing. A good way is to construct a bridge between theory and practice -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/you-have-to-connect-your-work-to-what-people-are-doing-a-good-way-is/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [Every time I undress in the locker room of my gym, I see women bearing the scars of liposuction, tummy tucks, breast implants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/every-time-i-undress-in-the-locker-room-of-my-gym-i-see-women-bearing/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [The U.S. has always understood itself to be united around political principles and not around culture, whereas the nations of Europe have a much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/the-u-s-has-always-understood-itself-to-be-united-around-political/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [Gandhi, when he was on the salt march, had everyone singing the song of Rabindranath Tagore, which goes, 'Walk alone, walk alone...' Now there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/gandhi-when-he-was-on-the-salt-march-had-everyone-singing-the-song-of/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) [Explore all 106 Martha Nussbaum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) ## 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": "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 mean for others.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martha Nussbaum" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/you-can-t-have-a-democracy-when-people-don-t-learn-to-put-themselves/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Democracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/you-can-t-have-a-democracy-when-people-don-t-learn-to-put-themselves/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/252/martha-nussbaum-4759_democracy_you-can-t-have-a-democracy-when-people-d_549554.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/252/martha-nussbaum-4759_democracy_you-can-t-have-a-democracy-when-people-d_549554.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/252/martha-nussbaum-4759_democracy_you-can-t-have-a-democracy-when-people-d_549554.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't have a democracy when people don't learn to put themselves in the shoes of another person, who…” — Martha Nussbaum", "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": "Martha Nussbaum", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't have a democracy when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/you-can-t-have-a-democracy-when-people-don-t-learn-to-put-themselves/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/you-can-t-have-a-democracy-when-people-don-t-learn-to-put-themselves/#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 } } ] } ```