--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If democracy brings an undemocratic group…" description: "\"If democracy brings an undemocratic group to power, is that a victory for democracy?\" — Richard Engel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/richard-engel-3133_brings_if-democracy-brings-an-undemocratic-grou_1220204.jpg" --- # If democracy brings an undemocratic group to power, is… ![“If democracy brings an undemocratic group to power, is that a victory for democracy?” quote by Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/richard-engel-3133_brings_if-democracy-brings-an-undemocratic-grou_1220204.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/richard-engel-3133_brings_if-democracy-brings-an-undemocratic-grou_1220204.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/richard-engel-3133_brings_if-democracy-brings-an-undemocratic-grou_1220204.jpg) > “If democracy brings an undemocratic group to power, is that a victory for democracy?” [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy can paradoxically empower anti‑democratic forces, questioning its self‑correcting nature. **In simple terms:** Democracy may empower its opponents. Key Takeaway Guard against anti‑democratic threats. Themes politics democracy paradox Mood cautious analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - policy debates - civic education Key Concepts governance power dynamics pluralism Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards protect democratic integrity? - How can citizens respond to anti‑democratic outcomes? A Different Perspective Democracy alone cannot guarantee fairness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) ## Related quotes > [As the acceptance of democracy brings a certain life-giving power, so it has its own sanctions and comforts. Perhaps the most obvious one is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-addams/as-the-acceptance-of-democracy-brings-a-certain-life-giving-power-so/) [Jane Addams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-addams/) > [“The United States allegedly presses for democratic change in the region, and when it happens, democracy brings to power anti-US parties.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hroub/the-united-states-allegedly-presses-for-democratic-change-in-the/) Khaled Hroub > [For all the manufactured 'Republican versus Democrat' drama that dominates today's cable news and political rhetoric, the most striking feature of our present-day democracy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-james/for-all-the-manufactured-republican-versus-democrat-drama-that/) [Letitia James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-james/) > [Let me appeal to the consciences of many silent, responsible citizens of the white community who know that a victory for democracy in Jackson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/medgar-evers/let-me-appeal-to-the-consciences-of-many-silent-responsible-citizens/) [Medgar Evers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/medgar-evers/) > [From my quarter-a-century experience as a fighter for democracy, there is never a final victory for democracy. It is always a struggle in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj/from-my-quarter-a-century-experience-as-a-fighter-for-democracy-there/) [Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj/) > [The United Kingdom has committed the heresy of breaking the chains of the E.U. This is a signal victory for democracy. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/the-united-kingdom-has-committed-the-heresy-of-breaking-the-chains-of/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [The victory of democracy in South Africa is the common achievement of all humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/the-victory-of-democracy-in-south-africa-is-the-common-achievement-of/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Only in England is the perversion of language regarded as a victory for democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/only-in-england-is-the-perversion-of-language-regarded-as-a-victory/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [The true victory is the victory for democracy and pluralism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosni-mubarak/the-true-victory-is-the-victory-for-democracy-and-pluralism/) [Hosni Mubarak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosni-mubarak/) > [War does horrible things to human beings, to societies. It brings out the best, but most often the worst, in our human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/war-does-horrible-things-to-human-beings-to-societies-it-brings-out/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [It is entirely undemocratic to continue these burdens on the people for years and years after the requirements of protection have been met and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-griffin-carlisle/it-is-entirely-undemocratic-to-continue-these-burdens-on-the-people/) [John Griffin Carlisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-griffin-carlisle/) > [“You see my point? The average person has a very average notion of goodness to which they aspire averagely. To aspire to goodness in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-wood/you-see-my-point-the-average-person-has-a-very-average-notion-of/) [Geoffrey Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-wood/) > [The skeptical relativist attempt to mandate a naked public square is undemocratic. It is also a danger to democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hyde/the-skeptical-relativist-attempt-to-mandate-a-naked-public-square-is/) [Henry Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hyde/) > [I'm afraid to apply for a visa to the U.S.A. because it's against terrorism in a very undemocratic way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamedou-ould-slahi/i-m-afraid-to-apply-for-a-visa-to-the-u-s-a-because-it-s-against/) [Mohamedou Ould Slahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamedou-ould-slahi/) > [“It's almost hard to imagine anything more undemocratic than the view that political officials should not debate American wars in public, but only express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/it-s-almost-hard-to-imagine-anything-more-undemocratic-than-the-view/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) ## More by Richard Engel > [The Syrians are better suited to sort out their internal divisions than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/the-syrians-are-better-suited-to-sort-out-their-internal-divisions/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Osama Bin Laden is dead. Killed not by a massive troop deployment but by a commando raid carried out by a few dozen highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/osama-bin-laden-is-dead-killed-not-by-a-massive-troop-deployment-but/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Anyone who follows the Middle East and Islamic world in general can't deny it is often a very violent place, that a band of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/anyone-who-follows-the-middle-east-and-islamic-world-in-general-can-t/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [An Egyptian newspaper once publicly identified me as the C.I.A. station chief in Cairo. It seemed so stupid at the time. I was only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/an-egyptian-newspaper-once-publicly-identified-me-as-the-c-i-a/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [It's probably time to end the global war on terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/it-s-probably-time-to-end-the-global-war-on-terrorism/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Israel is becoming a fortress. Fences along the borders with Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/israel-is-becoming-a-fortress-fences-along-the-borders-with-egypt/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Every country where the the United States maintains troops has a status of forces agreement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/every-country-where-the-the-united-states-maintains-troops-has-a/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [There are many Israelis who are not keen on Barack Obama - they did not want to see him elected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/there-are-many-israelis-who-are-not-keen-on-barack-obama-they-did-not/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [If you're in part of rebel-controlled Syria, and suddenly your house blows up or a building next to you blows up, it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/if-you-re-in-part-of-rebel-controlled-syria-and-suddenly-your-house/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Every child is taught if you try to please everyone, you end up upsetting everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/every-child-is-taught-if-you-try-to-please-everyone-you-end-up/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [There weren't many weapons in Egypt in the 1990s. Police controls on guns were very strict back then. That is no longer the case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/there-weren-t-many-weapons-in-egypt-in-the-1990s-police-controls-on/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Bin Laden is dead, and most of his friends are dead. But did it need to cost a trillion dollars and two land wars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/bin-laden-is-dead-and-most-of-his-friends-are-dead-but-did-it-need-to/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Many senior government officials, CIA, FBI, counter terrorism officials - when they look back at the decade, they effectively conclude that the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/many-senior-government-officials-cia-fbi-counter-terrorism-officials/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Many governments are quick to condemn Assad, but a dwindling number of them would celebrate a rebel victory in Damascus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/many-governments-are-quick-to-condemn-assad-but-a-dwindling-number-of/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Israel sees the world just beyond its borders collapsing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/israel-sees-the-world-just-beyond-its-borders-collapsing/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) [Explore all 138 Richard Engel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) ## More Brings quotes > [I teach my children that in life, there is no control of what tomorrow is going to bring. There really isn't. But in whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe-winans/i-teach-my-children-that-in-life-there-is-no-control-of-what-tomorrow/) [BeBe Winans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe-winans/) > [I like looking at the characters. Seeing them always brings up some voice or attitude. I am much more visual, and that works so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-welker/i-like-looking-at-the-characters-seeing-them-always-brings-up-some/) [Frank Welker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-welker/) > [The law of polarity brings forth clarity to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mercado/the-law-of-polarity-brings-forth-clarity-to-your-life/) [Joseph Mercado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mercado/) > [Sometimes when God brings things into an individual's life, it makes them totally depend on Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrae-crouch/sometimes-when-god-brings-things-into-an-individual-s-life-it-makes/) [Andrae Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrae-crouch/) > [Money brings jealousy and bitterness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/money-brings-jealousy-and-bitterness/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Jesus is the one who brings God to us and us to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/jesus-is-the-one-who-brings-god-to-us-and-us-to-god/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [In fiction, imaginary people become realer to us than any named celebrity glimpsed in a series of rumored events, whose causes and subtler ramifications…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/in-fiction-imaginary-people-become-realer-to-us-than-any-named/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [I love graffiti because it enables kids from every social extraction to do something that brings them closer to art, when they normally wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/i-love-graffiti-because-it-enables-kids-from-every-social-extraction/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [“Nobody can tell what tomorrow brings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/nobody-can-tell-what-tomorrow-brings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Technology is best when it brings people together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mullenweg/technology-is-best-when-it-brings-people-together/) [Matt Mullenweg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mullenweg/) > [We've seen the kind of social impact a professional sports team has on a city. A team brings high-profile role models into your community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-cornett/we-ve-seen-the-kind-of-social-impact-a-professional-sports-team-has/) [Mick Cornett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-cornett/) > [Be with someone that brings out the best in you, not the stress in you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-chable/be-with-someone-that-brings-out-the-best-in-you-not-the-stress-in-you/) [Ana Chable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-chable/) > [I love performing in the U.K. Everyone is always up for it and brings all their energy to the dance floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-love-performing-in-the-u-k-everyone-is-always-up-for-it-and-brings/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) > [I've got a massive actor girl crush on Carey Mulligan, so I'd love to be buddies with her. She just oozes this joyful, natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holliday-grainger/i-ve-got-a-massive-actor-girl-crush-on-carey-mulligan-so-i-d-love-to/) [Holliday Grainger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holliday-grainger/) > [Take as a gift whatever the day brings forth...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/take-as-a-gift-whatever-the-day-brings-forth/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) Browse all 403 Brings quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If democracy brings an undemocratic group to power, is that a victory for democracy?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Engel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/if-democracy-brings-an-undemocratic-group-to-power-is-that-a-victory/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brings" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/if-democracy-brings-an-undemocratic-group-to-power-is-that-a-victory/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/richard-engel-3133_brings_if-democracy-brings-an-undemocratic-grou_1220204.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/richard-engel-3133_brings_if-democracy-brings-an-undemocratic-grou_1220204.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/richard-engel-3133_brings_if-democracy-brings-an-undemocratic-grou_1220204.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If democracy brings an undemocratic group to power, is that a victory for democracy?” — Richard Engel", "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": "Richard Engel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If democracy brings an undemocratic group...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/if-democracy-brings-an-undemocratic-group-to-power-is-that-a-victory/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/if-democracy-brings-an-undemocratic-group-to-power-is-that-a-victory/#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 } } ] } ```