--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I grew up in a dictatorship, so I really…" description: "\"I grew up in a dictatorship, so I really appreciate democracy. I think democracy isn't just a random thing that's around - a democratic society needs t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8a/paul-van-dyk-14946_appreciate_i-grew-up-in-a-dictatorship-so-i-really_1996115.jpg" --- # I grew up in a dictatorship, so I really appreciate… ![“I grew up in a dictatorship, so I really appreciate democracy. I think democracy isn't just a random thing that's around - a democratic society needs the involvement of everybody.” quote by Paul van Dyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8a/paul-van-dyk-14946_appreciate_i-grew-up-in-a-dictatorship-so-i-really_1996115.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8a/paul-van-dyk-14946_appreciate_i-grew-up-in-a-dictatorship-so-i-really_1996115.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8a/paul-van-dyk-14946_appreciate_i-grew-up-in-a-dictatorship-so-i-really_1996115.jpg) > “I grew up in a dictatorship, so I really appreciate democracy. I think democracy isn't just a random thing that's around - a democratic society needs the involvement of everybody.” [Paul van Dyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-van-dyk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy thrives on active participation; it is not a passive state but a collective responsibility. **In simple terms:** Democracy needs everyone's involvement. Key Takeaway Engage actively in civic life. Themes civic duty participation freedom Mood inspirational encouraging Type political motivational When to use this quote - voting - community meetings - public debates - volunteering Key Concepts political theory social contract Questions to Reflect On - How can you increase your civic involvement? - What barriers prevent others from participating? A Different Perspective Apathy or disenfranchisement can undermine democratic processes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democratic society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-society/) [Dictatorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictatorship/) [Random things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/random-things/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“When we think of Communism,” read a sign at the conference, “we think of the Iron Curtain. BUT when THEY think of democracy, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-taubes/when-we-think-of-communism-read-a-sign-at-the-conference-we-think-of/) [Gary Taubes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-taubes/) > [Everybody now seems to be talking about democracy. I don't understand this. 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We are a representative republic. We're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/america-is-not-a-democracy-i-think-if-your-kids-understood-that-and/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [As long as we're in a democracy, I have to give what I think the majority of people will enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-granz/as-long-as-we-re-in-a-democracy-i-have-to-give-what-i-think-the/) [Norman Granz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-granz/) ## More by Paul van Dyk > [It's reaching in side of you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-van-dyk/it-s-reaching-in-side-of-you/) [Paul Van Dyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-van-dyk/) > [You're feeling infected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-van-dyk/you-re-feeling-infected/) [Paul Van Dyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-van-dyk/) > [I have my own charity organization in Berlin called Ruckenwind, which supports kids from - ya - not ideal backgrounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-van-dyk/i-have-my-own-charity-organization-in-berlin-called-ruckenwind-which/) [Paul van Dyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-van-dyk/) > [Just like a diamond, you were shining bright, through the night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-van-dyk/just-like-a-diamond-you-were-shining-bright-through-the-night/) [Paul Van Dyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-van-dyk/) > [I always say, "If you see something is wrong in your neighborhood, go ahead and change it. 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I don't want to lead people, I want to tempt them, I want to create a new world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-van-dyk/i-wouldn-t-call-myself-a-leader-i-don-t-want-to-lead-people-i-want-to/) [Paul van Dyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-van-dyk/) > [You give me love, give me love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-van-dyk/you-give-me-love-give-me-love/) [Paul Van Dyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-van-dyk/) > [I never knew love like this before, give me more](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-van-dyk/i-never-knew-love-like-this-before-give-me-more/) [Paul Van Dyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-van-dyk/) > [You're all that I've been dreaming of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-van-dyk/you-re-all-that-i-ve-been-dreaming-of/) [Paul Van Dyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-van-dyk/) > [I'll never love another, 'cause no one else will do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-van-dyk/i-ll-never-love-another-cause-no-one-else-will-do/) [Paul Van Dyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-van-dyk/) [Explore all 44 Paul van Dyk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-van-dyk/) ## More Appreciate quotes > [All I hear is the people that appreciate me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/all-i-hear-is-the-people-that-appreciate-me/) [Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/) > [I think that kind of balance comes with the process of growing together as a band, the Little Dragon. 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User-generated content without editorial oversight will simply be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eisner/eventually-the-consumer-will-come-to-appreciate-the-editorial-point/) [Michael Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eisner/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) J. Willard Gibbs > [This time, there were no drugs involved. The hours were completely normal daytime hours. I think we were able to appreciate the interplay, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-buckingham/this-time-there-were-no-drugs-involved-the-hours-were-completely/) [Lindsey Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-buckingham/) > [I would like beautiful gymnastics to be recognized as the best. I want the judges to appreciate things that are not necessarily winning points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kohei-uchimura/i-would-like-beautiful-gymnastics-to-be-recognized-as-the-best-i-want/) [Kohei Uchimura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kohei-uchimura/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [It's great at this stage in my life to still be in the running, that people appreciate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/it-s-great-at-this-stage-in-my-life-to-still-be-in-the-running-that/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Love is too wonderful for us but why we often times do not ever appreciate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamad-idrus/love-is-too-wonderful-for-us-but-why-we-often-times-do-not-ever/) [Mohamad Idrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamad-idrus/) > [I think the most important thing is to stay hopeful, to believe wonderful things are possible and do your best. Basically, to not give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irena-a-hoffman/i-think-the-most-important-thing-is-to-stay-hopeful-to-believe/) [Irena A. Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irena-a-hoffman/) > [“Admire and appreciate your man and he will be happy on your side”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-alfiori/admire-and-appreciate-your-man-and-he-will-be-happy-on-your-side/) [Linda Alfiori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-alfiori/) Browse all 3,873 Appreciate quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I grew up in a dictatorship, so I really appreciate democracy. 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