--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy thrived on a clash of ideas, a…" description: "\"“Democracy thrived on a clash of ideas, a tolerance of viewpoints, and robust debate.”\" — Steve Berry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/steve-berry-10744_democracy_democracy-thrived-on-a-clash-of-ideas-a_1554539.jpg" --- # Democracy thrived on a clash of ideas, a tolerance of… ![“Democracy thrived on a clash of ideas, a tolerance of viewpoints, and robust debate.” quote by Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/steve-berry-10744_democracy_democracy-thrived-on-a-clash-of-ideas-a_1554539.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/steve-berry-10744_democracy_democracy-thrived-on-a-clash-of-ideas-a_1554539.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/steve-berry-10744_democracy_democracy-thrived-on-a-clash-of-ideas-a_1554539.jpg) > ““Democracy thrived on a clash of ideas, a tolerance of viewpoints, and robust debate.”” [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy depends on diverse ideas, tolerance, and vigorous debate. **In simple terms:** Democracy needs ideas, tolerance, debate. Key Takeaway Foster open dialogue and respect differing views. Themes democracy dialogue pluralism Mood thought‑provoking analytical Type political educational When to use this quote - community meetings - political forums - educational curricula Key Concepts political theory social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance tolerance with truth? - What mechanisms ensure healthy debate? A Different Perspective Excessive tolerance can lead to false equivalence and stagnation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Thrived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-thrived-4667291/) [Ideas Tolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-tolerance-5818754/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Robust Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robust-debate-289552/) [Thrived Clash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrived-clash-5818755/) ## Related quotes > [Although Christianity has never been the guarantee of a democratic state anywhere in the world, no democracy has ever thrived successfully for any period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/although-christianity-has-never-been-the-guarantee-of-a-democratic/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [The fact that there is a robust debate in Congress is good. The fact that the debate sometimes seems unanchored to facts is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-fact-that-there-is-a-robust-debate-in-congress-is-good-the-fact/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I'm a fan of robust debate, and I'm not averse to engaging in the odd ad hominem attack myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/i-m-a-fan-of-robust-debate-and-i-m-not-averse-to-engaging-in-the-odd/) [Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/) > [Our philosophy is we call it as we see it. Sometimes you agree, sometimes you don't. 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I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [One of the undervalued contributors to Trump's stunning 2016 victory was the masterful performance Pence had in his debate against Hillary Clinton running mate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/one-of-the-undervalued-contributors-to-trump-s-stunning-2016-victory/) [Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) ## More by Steve Berry > [“What a difference from words on a page, or images on a video screen. Surrounding him was one of the oldest fortresses in England,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/what-a-difference-from-words-on-a-page-or-images-on-a-video-screen/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [I can only write new words at my desk, the one I've owned for 25 years. When we moved to our new house I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/i-can-only-write-new-words-at-my-desk-the-one-i-ve-owned-for-25-years/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [“Knowledge is far more powerful than any weapon,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/knowledge-is-far-more-powerful-than-any-weapon/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [“Never hate your enemy. That clouded judgment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/never-hate-your-enemy-that-clouded-judgment/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [“He’d read once that the measure of an idea was how relative it was not only to its time, but beyond. His”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/he-d-read-once-that-the-measure-of-an-idea-was-how-relative-it-was/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [“They’re like chocolate-chip cookies, though. Can’t have just one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/they-re-like-chocolate-chip-cookies-though-can-t-have-just-one/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [“If men were angels, no government would be necessary - James Madison”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/if-men-were-angels-no-government-would-be-necessary-james-madison/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [I love all of my children equally, all of my printed books, and each one bears a special piece of me. But the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/i-love-all-of-my-children-equally-all-of-my-printed-books-and-each/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [“We find what we search for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/we-find-what-we-search-for/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [“even the blind-eyed biscuit thrower occasionally hits the target.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/even-the-blind-eyed-biscuit-thrower-occasionally-hits-the-target/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [If all my friends jumped off a bridge, I wouldn't jump with them. I'd be at the bottom, hoping to catch them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/if-all-my-friends-jumped-off-a-bridge-i-wouldn-t-jump-with-them-i-d/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [“It's true that the early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/it-s-true-that-the-early-bird-gets-the-worm-but-the-second-mouse-gets/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [“More access to information meant more dissent, more informed discussion, more widespread criticism of authority. Information changed the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/more-access-to-information-meant-more-dissent-more-informed/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [If what you know and what you love are the same thing, that's great. But if not, write what you love. I love history,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/if-what-you-know-and-what-you-love-are-the-same-thing-that-s-great/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [Follow your heart. It rarely leads you astray. It's thinking that gets us into trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/follow-your-heart-it-rarely-leads-you-astray-it-s-thinking-that-gets/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) [Explore all 62 Steve Berry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) ## More Debate quotes > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [One of the undervalued contributors to Trump's stunning 2016 victory was the masterful performance Pence had in his debate against Hillary Clinton running mate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/one-of-the-undervalued-contributors-to-trump-s-stunning-2016-victory/) [Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. 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Deny it or debate it and we kill it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/grace-is-ours-let-s-live-it-deny-it-or-debate-it-and-we-kill-it/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [As far as I know, the question of whether and how it could be strategically or morally justified was never the subject of open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-far-as-i-know-the-question-of-whether-and-how-it-could-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The "family" has clearly emerged anew in the late 1970s as a central subject for discussion, debate, research and writing in bothscholarly and popular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/the-family-has-clearly-emerged-anew-in-the-late-1970s-as-a-central/) [Sheila Kamerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-kamerman/) > [The premise of any discussion I have is not to debate my humanity. I refuse to engage on that level. 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He used… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/james-madison-pointed-out-in-the-discussion-of-the-constitutional/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) [Browse all 2,322 Debate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Democracy thrived on a clash of ideas, a tolerance of viewpoints, and robust debate.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Berry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/democracy-thrived-on-a-clash-of-ideas-a-tolerance-of-viewpoints-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Debate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/democracy-thrived-on-a-clash-of-ideas-a-tolerance-of-viewpoints-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/steve-berry-10744_democracy_democracy-thrived-on-a-clash-of-ideas-a_1554539.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/steve-berry-10744_democracy_democracy-thrived-on-a-clash-of-ideas-a_1554539.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/steve-berry-10744_democracy_democracy-thrived-on-a-clash-of-ideas-a_1554539.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Democracy thrived on a clash of ideas, a tolerance of viewpoints, and robust debate.” — Steve Berry", "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": "Steve Berry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Democracy thrived on a clash of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/democracy-thrived-on-a-clash-of-ideas-a-tolerance-of-viewpoints-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/democracy-thrived-on-a-clash-of-ideas-a-tolerance-of-viewpoints-and/#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 } } ] } ```