--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We think about democracy, and that's the…" description: "\"We think about democracy, and that's the word that Americans love to use, 'democracy,' and that's how we characterize our system. But if democracy just..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b5/timothy-d-snyder-12961_democracy_we-think-about-democracy-and-that-s-the_539754.jpg" --- # We think about democracy, and that's the word that… ![“We think about democracy, and that's the word that Americans love to use, 'democracy,' and that's how we characterize our system. But if democracy just means going to vote, it's pretty meaningless. Russia has democracy in that sense. Most authoritarian regimes have democracy in that sense.” quote by Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b5/timothy-d-snyder-12961_democracy_we-think-about-democracy-and-that-s-the_539754.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b5/timothy-d-snyder-12961_democracy_we-think-about-democracy-and-that-s-the_539754.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b5/timothy-d-snyder-12961_democracy_we-think-about-democracy-and-that-s-the_539754.jpg) > “We think about democracy, and that's the word that Americans love to use, 'democracy,' and that's how we characterize our system. But if democracy just means going to vote, it's pretty meaningless. Russia has democracy in that sense. Most authoritarian regimes have democracy in that sense.” [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) ## 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 more than voting; it requires active participation and accountability to be meaningful. **In simple terms:** Democracy needs active involvement. Key Takeaway Engage beyond just voting. Themes democracy politics citizenship participation accountability Mood inquisitive critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - community meetings - policy advocacy - civic education Key Concepts civic engagement institutional trust public discourse Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens deepen democratic involvement? - What reforms strengthen accountability? A Different Perspective Voting alone may not ensure true democracy; systemic issues persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) ## Related quotes > [In the referendum - which was still decided to take place by the Crimea's old parliament - the majority of citizens voted for belonging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/in-the-referendum-which-was-still-decided-to-take-place-by-the-crimea/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [Now we're in a situation where democracy has been taken into the workshop and fixed, remodeled to be market-friendly. So now the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/now-we-re-in-a-situation-where-democracy-has-been-taken-into-the/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“Where democracy – as an evident necessity – has to be organized through representation, actors coincide with groups-interests. In a representative democracy the interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-klinkers/where-democracy-as-an-evident-necessity-has-to-be-organized-through/) [Leo Klinkers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-klinkers/) > [I think if you do have democracy it would transform the world because if the millions of people who die live on a dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/i-think-if-you-do-have-democracy-it-would-transform-the-world-because/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [“But Muslims now find themselves in a world shaped by western theories and western values. If we are to consider how Islamic communities conducted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-muslims-now-find-themselves-in-a-world-shaped-by-western-theories/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think democracy fails under a variety of conditions and one of the conditions occurs when people don't have the ability to get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/i-think-democracy-fails-under-a-variety-of-conditions-and-one-of-the/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [I think democracy's undermined when those who own newspapers fill them with trivia rather than real issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/i-think-democracy-s-undermined-when-those-who-own-newspapers-fill/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) > [I think some people have blind faith in American institutions without knowing a whole lot about them and think they will stand up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/i-think-some-people-have-blind-faith-in-american-institutions-without/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [We think that democracy can change a lot of things, but we're being fooled, because democracy is not the election. We've been taught that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-garcia-bernal/we-think-that-democracy-can-change-a-lot-of-things-but-we-re-being/) [Gael Garcia Bernal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-garcia-bernal/) > [ \[Hamas\] thought that if you go to elections you become a democrat for the rest of your life. They think that democracy is limited… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/hamas-thought-that-if-you-go-to-elections-you-become-a-democrat-for/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [I think we are dying in America, I think our democracy is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickie-lee-jones/i-think-we-are-dying-in-america-i-think-our-democracy-is-over/) [Rickie Lee Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickie-lee-jones/) > [I think democracy is on the decline in the West. Ruling parties are the same: neo-liberalism at home and wars abroad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ali/i-think-democracy-is-on-the-decline-in-the-west-ruling-parties-are/) [Tariq Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ali/) > [My father thought, and now I think too, that the system of democracy is entirely based upon the system of justice. If we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/my-father-thought-and-now-i-think-too-that-the-system-of-democracy-is/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [Everybody now seems to be talking about democracy. I don't understand this. As I think of it, democracy isn't like a Sunday suit to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-trumbo/everybody-now-seems-to-be-talking-about-democracy-i-don-t-understand/) [Dalton Trumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-trumbo/) > [But, you know, I'm sorry, I think democracy requires participation. I mean, I don't want to proselytize but I do feel some sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/but-you-know-i-m-sorry-i-think-democracy-requires-participation-i/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) ## More by Timothy D. Snyder > [It is aspiring tyrants who say that 'civil liberties end when an attack on our safety begins.' Conversely, leaders who wish to preserve the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/it-is-aspiring-tyrants-who-say-that-civil-liberties-end-when-an/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Americans can accept that the American Dream will not work out for them; what has been heartbreaking for so many is the sense that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/americans-can-accept-that-the-american-dream-will-not-work-out-for/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Defend an institution. Follow the courts or the media, or a court or a newspaper. Do not speak of 'our institutions' unless you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/defend-an-institution-follow-the-courts-or-the-media-or-a-court-or-a/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Courage does not mean not fearing or not grieving. It does mean recognizing and resisting terror management right away, from the moment of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/courage-does-not-mean-not-fearing-or-not-grieving-it-does-mean/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [In rhetoric and action, the Trump administration has aggrandized 'radical Islamic terror,' thus making what Madison called a 'favorable emergency' more likely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/in-rhetoric-and-action-the-trump-administration-has-aggrandized/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [I thought I was going to grow up and become a diplomat and negotiate nuclear arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/i-thought-i-was-going-to-grow-up-and-become-a-diplomat-and-negotiate/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Mr. Trump is primarily a television personality. As such, he is judged by that standard. This means that a scandal does not call forth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/mr-trump-is-primarily-a-television-personality-as-such-he-is-judged/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Most Americans are exceptionalists; we think we live outside of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/most-americans-are-exceptionalists-we-think-we-live-outside-of-history/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Every day you don't do something, it makes it less likely that you will ever do something. So you've got to get started right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/every-day-you-don-t-do-something-it-makes-it-less-likely-that-you/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Anticipatory obedience teaches authorities what is possible and accelerates unfreedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/anticipatory-obedience-teaches-authorities-what-is-possible-and/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then all is spectacle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/to-abandon-facts-is-to-abandon-freedom-if-nothing-is-true-then-all-is/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [In the descent from a world of factual discourse into a world of emotions and alternative realities, the first step you take, whether you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/in-the-descent-from-a-world-of-factual-discourse-into-a-world-of/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Maybe I am naive, but I don't think talking about the Holocaust with total and complete cynicism is possible for Israeli politicians. It's inevitable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/maybe-i-am-naive-but-i-don-t-think-talking-about-the-holocaust-with/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [There's a basic problem with the history of the Holocaust. The people who do it don't know the necessary languages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/there-s-a-basic-problem-with-the-history-of-the-holocaust-the-people/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) > [Trump bankrupted six companies but succeeded on the biggest of stages. He is the champion of failures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-d-snyder/trump-bankrupted-six-companies-but-succeeded-on-the-biggest-of-stages/) [Timothy D. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) [Explore all 52 Timothy D. Snyder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-d-snyder/) ## 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": "We think about democracy, and that's the word that Americans love to use, 'democracy,' and that's how we characterize our system. But if democracy just means going to vote, it's pretty meaningless. Russia has democracy in that sense. 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