--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We used to have this self-centred idea…" description: "\"“We used to have this self-centred idea that Western democracies were the end-point of evolution, and we're dealing from a position of strength, and pe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d24/peter-pomerantsev-40637_colonialism_we-used-to-have-this-self-centred-idea-t_3006667.jpg" --- # We used to have this self-centred idea that Western… ![“We used to have this self-centred idea that Western democracies were the end-point of evolution, and we're dealing from a position of strength, and people are becoming like us. It's not that way. Because if you think this thing we have here isn't fragile you are kidding yourself. This, '- and here…” quote by Peter Pomerantsev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d24/peter-pomerantsev-40637_colonialism_we-used-to-have-this-self-centred-idea-t_3006667.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d24/peter-pomerantsev-40637_colonialism_we-used-to-have-this-self-centred-idea-t_3006667.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d24/peter-pomerantsev-40637_colonialism_we-used-to-have-this-self-centred-idea-t_3006667.jpg) > ““We used to have this self-centred idea that Western democracies were the end-point of evolution, and we're dealing from a position of strength, and people are becoming like us. It's not that way. Because if you think this thing we have here isn't fragile you are kidding yourself. This, '- and here Jamison takes a breath and waves his hand around to denote Maida Vale, London, the whole of Western civilization, -'this is fragile.”” [Peter Pomerantsev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-pomerantsev/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Western democracy is fragile, not a final stage of evolution; its stability is often overestimated. **In simple terms:** Democracy can crumble easily. Key Takeaway Recognize and protect democratic institutions. Themes politics civilization fragility evolution Mood cautionary critical Type political reflective When to use this quote - policy making - activism - media analysis - education Key Concepts institutional decay global power shifts Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can strengthen democracy? - How do we balance optimism and realism? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on fragility may cause cynicism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Colonialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colonialism/) [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Nostalgia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nostalgia/) [Western civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western-civilization/) ## Related quotes > [Civilization is very fragile, all it takes is a few decades of chaos for us to forget humanity and turn into animals. Our base…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/civilization-is-very-fragile-all-it-takes-is-a-few-decades-of-chaos/) [Amish Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amish-tripathi/) > [“Music isn't fragile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/music-isn-t-fragile/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [“As for the third Official Reason: exposing Western Hypocrisy - how much more exposed can they be? 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