---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy is being allowed to vote for…"
description: "\"Democracy is being allowed to vote for the candidate you dislike least.\" — Robert Byrne"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/robert-byrne-18804_democracy_democracy-is-being-allowed-to-vote-for-t_304410.jpg"
---

#  Democracy is being allowed to vote for the candidate you…

![“Democracy is being allowed to vote for the candidate you dislike least.” quote by Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/robert-byrne-18804_democracy_democracy-is-being-allowed-to-vote-for-t_304410.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/robert-byrne-18804_democracy_democracy-is-being-allowed-to-vote-for-t_304410.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/robert-byrne-18804_democracy_democracy-is-being-allowed-to-vote-for-t_304410.jpg)

> “Democracy is being allowed to vote for the candidate you dislike least.”

[Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Democracy lets you choose the least objectionable option, not a truly ideal one.

**In simple terms:** Voting is about compromise, not perfection.

Key Takeaway

Accept imperfect choices, stay engaged.

Themes

politics democracy choice compromise

Mood

critical skeptical

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

- elections
- policy debates
- civic education

Key Concepts

civic duty electoral systems political realism

Questions to Reflect On

- How can citizens influence better options?
- What reforms could reduce settling for the 'least bad'?

A Different Perspective

It overlooks the possibility of transformative candidates.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/)

## Related quotes

> [All have the right to speak, do whatever they want in democracy, but no one will be allowed to destabilise the country or create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnath-singh/all-have-the-right-to-speak-do-whatever-they-want-in-democracy-but-no/)

[Rajnath Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajnath-singh/)

> [Humble seat corruption in democracy, but you are also allowed only shouting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humble-seat-corruption-in-democracy-but-you-are-also-allowed-only/)

Mak\_786

> [Stories are the best democracy we have. We are allowed to become the other we never dreamed we could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/stories-are-the-best-democracy-we-have-we-are-allowed-to-become-the/)

[Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/)

> [When you restore democracy, you cannot say that only those who worked for the restoration of democracy will be allowed to use the privileges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corazon-aquino/when-you-restore-democracy-you-cannot-say-that-only-those-who-worked/)

[Corazon Aquino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corazon-aquino/)

> [Unless they can pass the same test that immigrants must pass to become citizens, people shouldnt be allowed to vote. The idea that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-reese/unless-they-can-pass-the-same-test-that-immigrants-must-pass-to/)

[Charley Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-reese/)

> [The stranger in ancient Israel did not serve as a judge, although he received all the benefits of living in the land. The political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-north/the-stranger-in-ancient-israel-did-not-serve-as-a-judge-although-he/)

[Gary North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-north/)

> [Victor Hugo said you can stop an invasion of armies, but you can never stop an invasion of ideas. There's nothing more powerful than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/victor-hugo-said-you-can-stop-an-invasion-of-armies-but-you-can-never/)

[Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/)

> [People must be allowed to vote without intimidation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-hoyle/people-must-be-allowed-to-vote-without-intimidation/)

[Lindsay Hoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-hoyle/)

> [Anyone who wants to vote probably shouldn't be allowed to vote. Voting is the first step towards zombification - trying to get something without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bonner/anyone-who-wants-to-vote-probably-shouldn-t-be-allowed-to-vote-voting/)

[Bill Bonner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bonner/)

> [The two things that scare me most about wrestling fans is that they're allowed to vote and allowed to reproduce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-heenan/the-two-things-that-scare-me-most-about-wrestling-fans-is-that-they/)

[Bobby Heenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-heenan/)

> [Decisions made in Washington are more important to us than those made here in Dar es-Salaam. So, maybe my people should be allowed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/decisions-made-in-washington-are-more-important-to-us-than-those-made/)

[Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/)

> [I proposed a law that every country where the U.S. has a military base - those people should be allowed to vote in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/i-proposed-a-law-that-every-country-where-the-u-s-has-a-military-base/)

[Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/)

> [There's something wrong in a nation where six million black men are not allowed to vote because they were convicted of felonies. They've paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/there-s-something-wrong-in-a-nation-where-six-million-black-men-are/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [Only native male citizens with a wife and children, a property, and a military rank should be allowed to vote and be elected for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varg-vikernes/only-native-male-citizens-with-a-wife-and-children-a-property-and-a/)

[Varg Vikernes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varg-vikernes/)

> [“Aren't you a Republican? Just about everyone is in the whole town of Learning." "No, I'm not a Republican. And I'm not no Democrat.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-newton-peck/aren-t-you-a-republican-just-about-everyone-is-in-the-whole-town-of/)

[Robert Newton Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-newton-peck/)

## More by Robert Byrne

> [There is money to be made giving trick-shot shows at schools, clubs, tournaments, and even shopping centers. Pool shows on television almost always include…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/there-is-money-to-be-made-giving-trick-shot-shows-at-schools-clubs/)

[Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/)

> [In order to preserve your self-respect, it is sometimes necessary to lie and cheat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/in-order-to-preserve-your-self-respect-it-is-sometimes-necessary-to/)

[Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/)

> [Memorial Service: Farewell party for someone who already left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/memorial-service-farewell-party-for-someone-who-already-left/)

[Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/)

> [The purpose of life is life with a purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/the-purpose-of-life-is-life-with-a-purpose/)

[Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/)

> [Partying is such sweet sorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/partying-is-such-sweet-sorrow/)

[Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/)

> [The purpose of life is a life of purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/the-purpose-of-life-is-a-life-of-purpose/)

[Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/)

> [There are two kinds of people, those who finish what they start and so on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-those-who-finish-what-they-start-and-so/)

[Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/)

> [If you know a good player who is tempted by pool hustling, introduce him at once to a career guidance counselor, a psychotherapist, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/if-you-know-a-good-player-who-is-tempted-by-pool-hustling-introduce/)

[Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/)

> [Once-dominant games like straight pool and three-cushion billiards have lost ground to eight-ball - the game of choice for millions of tavern league players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/once-dominant-games-like-straight-pool-and-three-cushion-billiards/)

[Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/)

> [One reason people get divorced is that they run out of gift ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/one-reason-people-get-divorced-is-that-they-run-out-of-gift-ideas/)

[Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/)

> [A game is great, in my view, only if it can be played happily by a sane person of at least average intelligence for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/a-game-is-great-in-my-view-only-if-it-can-be-played-happily-by-a-sane/)

[Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/)

> [Until you walk a mile in another man's moccasins you can't imagine the smell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/until-you-walk-a-mile-in-another-man-s-moccasins-you-can-t-imagine/)

[Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/)

> [Learning to dislike children at an early age saves a lot of expense and aggravation later in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/learning-to-dislike-children-at-an-early-age-saves-a-lot-of-expense/)

[Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/)

> [Anybody who believes that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach flunked geography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/anybody-who-believes-that-the-way-to-a-man-s-heart-is-through-his/)

[Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/)

> [Getting caught is the mother of invention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/getting-caught-is-the-mother-of-invention/)

[Robert Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/)

[Explore all 34 Robert Byrne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/)

## 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": "Democracy is being allowed to vote for the candidate you dislike least.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robert Byrne"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/democracy-is-being-allowed-to-vote-for-the-candidate-you-dislike-least/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Democracy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/democracy-is-being-allowed-to-vote-for-the-candidate-you-dislike-least/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/robert-byrne-18804_democracy_democracy-is-being-allowed-to-vote-for-t_304410.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/robert-byrne-18804_democracy_democracy-is-being-allowed-to-vote-for-t_304410.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/401/robert-byrne-18804_democracy_democracy-is-being-allowed-to-vote-for-t_304410.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Democracy is being allowed to vote for the candidate you dislike least.” — Robert Byrne",
                "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": "Robert Byrne",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrne/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Democracy is being allowed to vote...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/democracy-is-being-allowed-to-vote-for-the-candidate-you-dislike-least/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrne/democracy-is-being-allowed-to-vote-for-the-candidate-you-dislike-least/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
