--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think our democracy has it exactly…" description: "\"I think our democracy has it exactly right: two terms, eight years. It's enough. Because it's important to have one foot in reality when you have acces..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8f/michelle-obama-518_democracy_i-think-our-democracy-has-it-exactly-rig_3144606.jpg" --- # I think our democracy has it exactly right: two terms… ![“I think our democracy has it exactly right: two terms, eight years. It's enough. Because it's important to have one foot in reality when you have access to this kind of power.” quote by Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8f/michelle-obama-518_democracy_i-think-our-democracy-has-it-exactly-rig_3144606.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8f/michelle-obama-518_democracy_i-think-our-democracy-has-it-exactly-rig_3144606.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8f/michelle-obama-518_democracy_i-think-our-democracy-has-it-exactly-rig_3144606.jpg) > “I think our democracy has it exactly right: two terms, eight years. It's enough. Because it's important to have one foot in reality when you have access to this kind of power.” [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy works best with limited terms, keeping leaders grounded in reality. **In simple terms:** Term limits keep power in check. Key Takeaway Support term limits to maintain accountability. Themes democracy governance term limits reality power Mood inspirational optimistic Type political motivational When to use this quote - policy debates - civic education - leadership training Key Concepts political theory institutional design civic responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do term limits affect long‑term policy? - What safeguards complement term limits? A Different Perspective Limits may not prevent all abuses of power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Exactly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-exactly-5618258/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Right Terms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-terms-5618260/) [Terms Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terms-years-5618259/) [Think Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-democracy-676531/) ## Related quotes > [But, you know, I'm sorry, I think democracy requires participation. 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If we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/my-father-thought-and-now-i-think-too-that-the-system-of-democracy-is/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [“These various remedies, eugenic, educational, ethical, populist and socialist, all assume that either the voters are inherently competent to direct the course of affairs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/these-various-remedies-eugenic-educational-ethical-populist-and/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [I think if you do have democracy it would transform the world because if the millions of people who die live on a dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/i-think-if-you-do-have-democracy-it-would-transform-the-world-because/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [“But Muslims now find themselves in a world shaped by western theories and western values. If we are to consider how Islamic communities conducted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-muslims-now-find-themselves-in-a-world-shaped-by-western-theories/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think democracy fails under a variety of conditions and one of the conditions occurs when people don't have the ability to get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/i-think-democracy-fails-under-a-variety-of-conditions-and-one-of-the/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [I think democracy's undermined when those who own newspapers fill them with trivia rather than real issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/i-think-democracy-s-undermined-when-those-who-own-newspapers-fill/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) > [I think some people have blind faith in American institutions without knowing a whole lot about them and think they will stand up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/i-think-some-people-have-blind-faith-in-american-institutions-without/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [We think that democracy can change a lot of things, but we're being fooled, because democracy is not the election. We've been taught that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-garcia-bernal/we-think-that-democracy-can-change-a-lot-of-things-but-we-re-being/) [Gael Garcia Bernal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-garcia-bernal/) > [ \[Hamas\] thought that if you go to elections you become a democrat for the rest of your life. They think that democracy is limited… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/hamas-thought-that-if-you-go-to-elections-you-become-a-democrat-for/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [We think about democracy, and that's the word that Americans love to use, 'democracy,' and that's how we characterize our system. But if democracy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/we-think-about-democracy-and-that-s-the-word-that-americans-love-to/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [I think we are dying in America, I think our democracy is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lee-jones/i-think-we-are-dying-in-america-i-think-our-democracy-is-over/) [Rickie Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lee-jones/) > [I think democracy is on the decline in the West. Ruling parties are the same: neo-liberalism at home and wars abroad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/i-think-democracy-is-on-the-decline-in-the-west-ruling-parties-are/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [They think democracy -- I used to say damn the democracy, because it's not a stable government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/they-think-democracy-i-used-to-say-damn-the-democracy-because-it-s/) [Maharishi Mahesh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/) ## More by Michelle Obama > [It's hard to change adults, and it's hard to change it from a political position or a perceived political position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/it-s-hard-to-change-adults-and-it-s-hard-to-change-it-from-a/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [ The president \[Barack Obama\] asked for a commitment of, I think, 100,000 jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next couple of years.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/the-president-barack-obama-asked-for-a-commitment-of-i-think-100-000/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [You work hard for what you want in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/you-work-hard-for-what-you-want-in-life/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [We must once again come together and stand together for the man we can trust to keep moving this great country forward my husband,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/we-must-once-again-come-together-and-stand-together-for-the-man-we/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [We're starting to see, as the economy improves, that the unemployment rate among veterans and military spouses - we're seeing some improvement in those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/we-re-starting-to-see-as-the-economy-improves-that-the-unemployment/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [There's so much going on in the healthcare system that makes it difficult for women to really have a strong economic hold if insurance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/there-s-so-much-going-on-in-the-healthcare-system-that-makes-it/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [In the 10 cities with the nation's highest obesity rates, the direct costs connected with obesity and obesity-related diseases are roughly $50 million per…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/in-the-10-cities-with-the-nation-s-highest-obesity-rates-the-direct/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [What I admire most about Hillary is that she never buckles under pressure. She never takes the easy way out. And Hillary Clinton has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/what-i-admire-most-about-hillary-is-that-she-never-buckles-under/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [A lot of young people think they're invincible, but the truth is young people are knuckleheads... Now young people can get insurance for as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/a-lot-of-young-people-think-they-re-invincible-but-the-truth-is-young/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/one-of-the-lessons-that-i-grew-up-with-was-to-always-stay-true-to/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [I have never felt more confident in myself, more clear on who I am as a woman. But I am constantly thinking about my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/i-have-never-felt-more-confident-in-myself-more-clear-on-who-i-am-as/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [ We got a commitment that 3 million nurses are going to be trained to better identify these signs \[of PTSD\], because, you know, when… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/we-got-a-commitment-that-3-million-nurses-are-going-to-be-trained-to/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [We're our kids' first and best role models. So the first question is, what are you as a mom or a dad doing every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/we-re-our-kids-first-and-best-role-models-so-the-first-question-is/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [I've always tried to make sure that what I do really connects with the broader agenda of what my husband is trying to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/i-ve-always-tried-to-make-sure-that-what-i-do-really-connects-with/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [I know from experience that if I truly want to leave a better world for my daughters, and all of our sons and daughters;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/i-know-from-experience-that-if-i-truly-want-to-leave-a-better-world/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) [Explore all 504 Michelle Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) ## 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": "I think our democracy has it exactly right: two terms, eight years. It's enough. 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