--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I define democracy as control by the…" description: "\"I define democracy as control by the people. Slaves are those who allow others to control their lives. Insofar as people succeed in solving their probl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae7/peace-pilgrim-1191_authority_i-define-democracy-as-control-by-the-peo_1407835.jpg" --- # I define democracy as control by the people. Slaves are… ![“I define democracy as control by the people. Slaves are those who allow others to control their lives. Insofar as people succeed in solving their problems fairly and efficiently at a grassroots level, they retain control over their lives. Insofar as they delegate their problem solving to a higher…” quote by Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae7/peace-pilgrim-1191_authority_i-define-democracy-as-control-by-the-peo_1407835.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae7/peace-pilgrim-1191_authority_i-define-democracy-as-control-by-the-peo_1407835.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae7/peace-pilgrim-1191_authority_i-define-democracy-as-control-by-the-peo_1407835.jpg) > “I define democracy as control by the people. Slaves are those who allow others to control their lives. Insofar as people succeed in solving their problems fairly and efficiently at a grassroots level, they retain control over their lives. Insofar as they delegate their problem solving to a higher authority, they lose control over their lives.” [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy is self‑governance; surrendering authority to others makes one a slave. Local problem‑solving preserves freedom, while delegating to higher powers diminishes it. **In simple terms:** Democracy means people control themselves; giving up control makes you a slave. Key Takeaway Empower local decision‑making. Themes freedom self‑determination politics Mood hopeful determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - community meetings - local councils - policy making Key Concepts grassroots empowerment citizen participation authority delegation Questions to Reflect On - What balance should exist between local and central authority? - When is delegation necessary? A Different Perspective Centralized systems can be efficient but may erode personal agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Define Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/define-democracy-3258137/) [Delegates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delegates/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-control-2136037/) [Grassroots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grassroots/) [Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [Loses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loses/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Slaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-slaves-290394/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem solving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-solving/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaves/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) ## Related quotes > [If democracy is control by the people, as it is supposed to be, it is the right form of government. I believe in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/if-democracy-is-control-by-the-people-as-it-is-supposed-to-be-it-is/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [When we define democracy now it must still be as a thing hoped for but not seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/when-we-define-democracy-now-it-must-still-be-as-a-thing-hoped-for/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [I do not subscribe to the doctrine that the people are the slaves and property of their government. I believe that government is for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-smith/i-do-not-subscribe-to-the-doctrine-that-the-people-are-the-slaves-and/) [Gerrit Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-smith/) > [Plenty poisoned minds of the people are ours. Slaves, from mental death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/plenty-poisoned-minds-of-the-people-are-ours-slaves-from-mental-death/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [I said there was a society of men among us, bred up from their youth in the art of proving by words multiplied for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-said-there-was-a-society-of-men-among-us-bred-up-from-their-youth/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [“«Since when you have taken people for slaves and they were born free»”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umar-ibn-al-khattab/since-when-you-have-taken-people-for-slaves-and-they-were-born-free/) [Umar ibn Al-Khattab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umar-ibn-al-khattab/) > [“democracy that cannot control its own population may be worse for human rights than a dictatorship that can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-kaplan/democracy-that-cannot-control-its-own-population-may-be-worse-for/) [Robert D. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-kaplan/) > [Under the freest constitution ignorant people are still slaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-de-caritat-marquis-de-condorcet/under-the-freest-constitution-ignorant-people-are-still-slaves/) [Nicolas de Caritat, marquis de Condorcet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-de-caritat-marquis-de-condorcet/) > [Slavery wasn't something that grew up in the American South. and black people were not the first to be slaves in America. Before them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/slavery-wasn-t-something-that-grew-up-in-the-american-south-and-black/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [“Some morals tended to keep people slaves in factories, in churches and true to the State. Other morals simply made good sense. 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Their purpose is to push the whole society toward harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/when-societies-are-out-of-harmony-problems-develop-within-the-society/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [Unnecessary possessions are unnecessary burdens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/unnecessary-possessions-are-unnecessary-burdens/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [When you feel the need for a spiritual lift, try getting to bed early and get up early to have a quiet time at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/when-you-feel-the-need-for-a-spiritual-lift-try-getting-to-bed-early/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [This is the way of peace: Overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth, and hatred with love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/this-is-the-way-of-peace-overcome-evil-with-good-falsehood-with-truth/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [For light I go directly to the Source of light, not to any of the reflections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/for-light-i-go-directly-to-the-source-of-light-not-to-any-of-the/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [I would like to mention some preparations that were required of me. 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