--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The claim that democracy and efficiency…" description: "\"The claim that democracy and efficiency are contradictory is nonsense. That's evident in the history of democracy itself, because it is only democrats ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a00/sigmar-gabriel-14684_capable_the-claim-that-democracy-and-efficiency_2761241.jpg" --- # The claim that democracy and efficiency are contradictory… ![“The claim that democracy and efficiency are contradictory is nonsense. That's evident in the history of democracy itself, because it is only democrats who were and continue to be capable of learning from mistakes. A more appropriate question is to ask whether a country like China, which has been…” quote by Sigmar Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a00/sigmar-gabriel-14684_capable_the-claim-that-democracy-and-efficiency_2761241.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a00/sigmar-gabriel-14684_capable_the-claim-that-democracy-and-efficiency_2761241.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a00/sigmar-gabriel-14684_capable_the-claim-that-democracy-and-efficiency_2761241.jpg) > “The claim that democracy and efficiency are contradictory is nonsense. That's evident in the history of democracy itself, because it is only democrats who were and continue to be capable of learning from mistakes. A more appropriate question is to ask whether a country like China, which has been so incredibly successful economically, is actually inefficient in light of its environmental destruction and its corruption. In China's perception, however, the democratic model is doubtlessly inferior.” [Sigmar Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmar-gabriel/) ## 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 coexist with efficiency; learning from mistakes drives progress despite flaws. **In simple terms:** Democracy can be efficient. Key Takeaway Embrace democratic learning, improve systems. Themes democracy efficiency learning governance Mood critical analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government reform - public accountability - environmental policy Key Concepts feedback loops policy adaptation environmental impact Questions to Reflect On - Can democratic societies balance growth with sustainability? - How to institutionalize learning from mistakes? A Different Perspective Efficiency may be hindered by political gridlock. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable/) [Claim Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claim-democracy-1125803/) [Contradictory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradictory/) [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Efficiency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-efficiency-3171321/) [Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat/) [Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic/) [Democratic Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-model-944432/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Efficiency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/efficiency/) [Efficiency Contradictory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/efficiency-contradictory-3171322/) [Environmental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental/) [Environmental destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental-destruction/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Learning from mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning-from-mistakes/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense/) [Perception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perception/) [Productivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productivity/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) ## Related quotes > [I hope that with the success of the transition to democracy in Tunisia that we will export to Egypt a working democratic model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashid-al-ghannushi/i-hope-that-with-the-success-of-the-transition-to-democracy-in/) [Rashid al-Ghannushi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashid-al-ghannushi/) > [I agree with those who say that democracies need to work together more effectively to stand up for the liberal democratic model that China…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/i-agree-with-those-who-say-that-democracies-need-to-work-together/) [David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/) > [“In the case of a word like democracy, not only is there no agreed definition, but the attempt to make one is resisted from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-hume/in-the-case-of-a-word-like-democracy-not-only-is-there-no-agreed/) [Mick Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-hume/) > [“The word Fascism has now no meaning except in so far as it signifies "something not desirable"...In the case of a word like democracy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-word-fascism-has-now-no-meaning-except-in-so-far-as-it-signifies/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [In building up a democratic model I think that Cuba's contribution, little by little, has contributed to getting closer to the ideals of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-castro-espin/in-building-up-a-democratic-model-i-think-that-cuba-s-contribution/) [Alejandro Castro Espin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-castro-espin/) > [It is almost universally felt that when we call a country democratic we are praising it; consequently, the defenders of every kind of regime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/it-is-almost-universally-felt-that-when-we-call-a-country-democratic/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [My main argument is that environmental destruction comes when people externalise their costs and pass them on to future generations. 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