--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Toleration means being prepared to accept…" description: "\"“Toleration means being prepared to accept opinions that you intensely dislike. Likewise democracy means consenting to be governed by people whom you i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/roger-scruton-971_democracy_toleration-means-being-prepared-to-accep_2288231.jpg" --- # Toleration means being prepared to accept opinions that… ![“Toleration means being prepared to accept opinions that you intensely dislike. Likewise democracy means consenting to be governed by people whom you intensely dislike. This” quote by Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/roger-scruton-971_democracy_toleration-means-being-prepared-to-accep_2288231.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/roger-scruton-971_democracy_toleration-means-being-prepared-to-accep_2288231.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/roger-scruton-971_democracy_toleration-means-being-prepared-to-accep_2288231.jpg) > ““Toleration means being prepared to accept opinions that you intensely dislike. Likewise democracy means consenting to be governed by people whom you intensely dislike. This”” [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Toleration requires accepting ideas you despise; democracy demands obeying leaders you dislike. **In simple terms:** Accepting opposing views and authority you dislike. Key Takeaway Practice open-mindedness despite personal dislike. Themes tolerance democracy political philosophy Mood thoughtful critical reflective Type philosophical political ethical When to use this quote - political debates - public policy discussions - community decision making - civic education Key Concepts pluralism social contract civic duty Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance tolerance with protecting core values? - When is dissent no longer acceptable? A Different Perspective Toleration may be limited when ideas threaten fundamental rights. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Tolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerance/) [Toleration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toleration/) ## Related quotes > [“Toleration means incomplete religious liberty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bagnell-bury/toleration-means-incomplete-religious-liberty/) [John Bagnell Bury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bagnell-bury/) > [“Locke’s essay on Toleration of 1689 argued for the toleration of opinions and ways of life with which you do not agree, as one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/locke-s-essay-on-toleration-of-1689-argued-for-the-toleration-of/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [“Toleration is the prerogative of humanity; we are all full of weaknesses and mistakes; let us reciprocally forgive ourselves. It is the first law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/toleration-is-the-prerogative-of-humanity-we-are-all-full-of/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [That the religious right completely took over the word Christian is a given. At one time, phrases such as Christian charity and Christian tolerance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/that-the-religious-right-completely-took-over-the-word-christian-is-a/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [“The liberty I contend for is more than toleration. The very idea of toleration is despicable; it supposes that some have a pre-eminence above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-a-spellberg/the-liberty-i-contend-for-is-more-than-toleration-the-very-idea-of/) Denise A. Spellberg > [Our contention is not for mere toleration, but for absolute liberty. There is a wide difference between toleration and liberty. Toleration implies that somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-truett/our-contention-is-not-for-mere-toleration-but-for-absolute-liberty/) [George W Truett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-truett/) > [A tolerant society is one in which we criminalise an activity only as a last resort. Toleration is not just about allowing people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gummer/a-tolerant-society-is-one-in-which-we-criminalise-an-activity-only-as/) [John Gummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gummer/) > [I have seen gross intolerance shown in support of toleration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/i-have-seen-gross-intolerance-shown-in-support-of-toleration/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [It is intolerance to speak of toleration. 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