--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know, we're taught that in a…" description: "\"You know, we're taught that in a democracy power comes from being elected.\" — Robert Caro" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/robert-caro-11059_being_you-know-we-re-taught-that-in-a-democrac_1020883.png" --- # You know, we're taught that in a democracy power comes… ![“You know, we're taught that in a democracy power comes from being elected.” quote by Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/robert-caro-11059_being_you-know-we-re-taught-that-in-a-democrac_1020883.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/robert-caro-11059_being_you-know-we-re-taught-that-in-a-democrac_1020883.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/robert-caro-11059_being_you-know-we-re-taught-that-in-a-democrac_1020883.png) > “You know, we're taught that in a democracy power comes from being elected.” [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) ## 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 taught as electoral power, but true influence may lie elsewhere. **In simple terms:** Power isn’t only elected. Key Takeaway Explore non‑electoral influence. Themes politics democracy power structures Mood analytical critical Type educational political When to use this quote - grassroots activism - lobbying - media influence - policy making Key Concepts political science civic engagement Questions to Reflect On - What non‑elected powers shape your community? - How can citizens engage beyond voting? A Different Perspective Electoral power still matters for legitimacy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [“Thomas Jefferson taught that a democracy was impractical unless the people were educated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/thomas-jefferson-taught-that-a-democracy-was-impractical-unless-the/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [We, in Africa, have no more need of being 'converted' to socialism than we have of being 'taught' democracy. Both are rooted in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-nyerere/we-in-africa-have-no-more-need-of-being-converted-to-socialism-than/) [Julius Nyerere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-nyerere/) > [Russian democracy is the power of the Russian people with their own traditions of national self-government, and not the realisation of standards foisted on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/russian-democracy-is-the-power-of-the-russian-people-with-their-own/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [Democracy is the power of equal votes for unequal minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-i-of-england/democracy-is-the-power-of-equal-votes-for-unequal-minds/) [Charles I of England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-i-of-england/) > [In a democracy, power is not permanent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lalu-prasad-yadav/in-a-democracy-power-is-not-permanent/) [Lalu Prasad Yadav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lalu-prasad-yadav/) > [No government really rooted in limited, parliamentary democracy should have the power to make its citizens fight and kill and die in a war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/no-government-really-rooted-in-limited-parliamentary-democracy-should/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [“And that brings me to my definition of power, which is simply this: the capacity to make others do what you would have them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-liu/and-that-brings-me-to-my-definition-of-power-which-is-simply-this-the/) [Eric Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-liu/) > [“Democracy is the spawn of despotism. And like father, like son. Democracy is power and rule. It's not the will of the people, remember;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner-2/democracy-is-the-spawn-of-despotism-and-like-father-like-son/) [B.F. 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The law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-hope-that-the-elected-officials-will-respond-positively-to-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you're running, when you're in elected office, you're surrounded with power. And, so every single day, you have to remind yourself why you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/when-you-re-running-when-you-re-in-elected-office-you-re-surrounded/) [Sam Rasoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/) > [When I was elected governor of my state, I had a legislature 87 percent Democrat. 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I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [There's a theory, and I think the theory is right, that in order to make a change you've got to make the whole language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/there-s-a-theory-and-i-think-the-theory-is-right-that-in-order-to/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Everyone believed the Senate could not really be led. It used to take so long to rise up through seniority. In two years Lyndon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/everyone-believed-the-senate-could-not-really-be-led-it-used-to-take/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [I try to have a mood or a rhythm for a chapter,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/i-try-to-have-a-mood-or-a-rhythm-for-a-chapter/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [I really wanted there to be something in my life that I enjoy just for the beauty of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/i-really-wanted-there-to-be-something-in-my-life-that-i-enjoy-just/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [We're taught Lord Acton's axiom: all power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. 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How power works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/my-interest-is-in-power-how-power-works/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whenever I go to work I wear a jacket and a tie, because I'm inherently quite lazy, and my books take so long to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/whenever-i-go-to-work-i-wear-a-jacket-and-a-tie-because-i-m/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [When you have enough power to do what you always wanted to do, then you see what the guy always wanted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/when-you-have-enough-power-to-do-what-you-always-wanted-to-do-then/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [As you get older, you sometimes feel that it's harder and harder to get something new and wonderful to come into your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/as-you-get-older-you-sometimes-feel-that-it-s-harder-and-harder-to/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [The New York City Ballet is obviously speaking to a whole new generation and bringing it the same wonder and beauty that it brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/the-new-york-city-ballet-is-obviously-speaking-to-a-whole-new/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Robert Moses wasn't elected to anything. We're taught that in a democracy power comes from being elected. He had more power than anyone, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/robert-moses-wasn-t-elected-to-anything-we-re-taught-that-in-a/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) [Explore all 62 Robert Caro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) ## More Being quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [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/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) [Browse all 18,139 Being quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know, we're taught that in a democracy power comes from being elected.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Caro" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/you-know-we-re-taught-that-in-a-democracy-power-comes-from-being/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/you-know-we-re-taught-that-in-a-democracy-power-comes-from-being/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/robert-caro-11059_being_you-know-we-re-taught-that-in-a-democrac_1020883.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/robert-caro-11059_being_you-know-we-re-taught-that-in-a-democrac_1020883.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce1/robert-caro-11059_being_you-know-we-re-taught-that-in-a-democrac_1020883.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You know, we're taught that in a democracy power comes from being elected.” — Robert Caro", "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 Caro", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You know, we're taught that in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/you-know-we-re-taught-that-in-a-democracy-power-comes-from-being/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/you-know-we-re-taught-that-in-a-democracy-power-comes-from-being/#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 } } ] } ```