--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If democracy is ever to be threatened, it…" description: "\"If democracy is ever to be threatened, it will not be by revolutionary groups burning government offices and occupying the broadcasting and newspaper o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/tony-benn-2543_broadcasting_if-democracy-is-ever-to-be-threatened-it_3002049.jpg" --- # If democracy is ever to be threatened, it will not be by… ![“If democracy is ever to be threatened, it will not be by revolutionary groups burning government offices and occupying the broadcasting and newspaper offices of the world. It will come from disenchantment, cynicism and despair caused by the realisation that the New World Order means we are all to…” quote by Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/tony-benn-2543_broadcasting_if-democracy-is-ever-to-be-threatened-it_3002049.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/tony-benn-2543_broadcasting_if-democracy-is-ever-to-be-threatened-it_3002049.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db0/tony-benn-2543_broadcasting_if-democracy-is-ever-to-be-threatened-it_3002049.jpg) > “If democracy is ever to be threatened, it will not be by revolutionary groups burning government offices and occupying the broadcasting and newspaper offices of the world. It will come from disenchantment, cynicism and despair caused by the realisation that the New World Order means we are all to be managed and not represented.” [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) ## 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 threatened not by overt attacks but by public disillusionment and fear of control. **In simple terms:** Disillusionment harms democracy more than riots. Key Takeaway Address cynicism, protect representation. Themes democracy trust political engagement Mood concerned serious Type political warning When to use this quote - political campaigns - public policy debates - civic education - media literacy Key Concepts cynicism disenchantment media influence Questions to Reflect On - How can societies rebuild trust? - What safeguards prevent manipulation? A Different Perspective It may underestimate the role of organized extremist actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Broadcasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broadcasting/) [Cynicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynicism/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Disenchantment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disenchantment/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [New world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-world/) [New world order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-world-order/) [Newspapers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newspapers/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Revolutionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolutionary/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-order/) ## Related quotes > [I'm going to try and make people realize that in order to live the life they are living, they need to have democracy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-cummings/i-m-going-to-try-and-make-people-realize-that-in-order-to-live-the/) [Elijah Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-cummings/) > [America is a symbol of freedom - it's a symbol of democracy - and if that is threatened, we have to take this platform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaggy/america-is-a-symbol-of-freedom-it-s-a-symbol-of-democracy-and-if-that/) [Shaggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaggy/) > [In America, the system itself of democracy is being threatened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-boxer/in-america-the-system-itself-of-democracy-is-being-threatened/) [Barbara Boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-boxer/) > [Democracy is threatened by the inertia of good people, by the selfishness of most people, and by the evil designs of a few people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/democracy-is-threatened-by-the-inertia-of-good-people-by-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think Democracy is threatened in a way it hasn't been in two hundred years, and if America doesn't stand up, we're in big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-o-donnell/i-think-democracy-is-threatened-in-a-way-it-hasn-t-been-in-two/) [Rosie O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-o-donnell/) > [I have spent my life fighting for our country and our values. When those values are jeopardized, when our democracy is threatened, I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikie-sherrill/i-have-spent-my-life-fighting-for-our-country-and-our-values-when/) [Mikie Sherrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikie-sherrill/) > [We are living through an epochal shift. 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I do get lonely, yes, but I have the children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/someone-comes-every-morning-at-nine-o-clock-to-see-if-i-am-still/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [Middle class Labour leaders are recaptured by the establishment when they die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/middle-class-labour-leaders-are-recaptured-by-the-establishment-when/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [Change from below, the formulation of demands from the populace to end unacceptable injustice, supported by direct action, has played a far larger part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/change-from-below-the-formulation-of-demands-from-the-populace-to-end/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [People would do well to ask themselves how many of their ambitions and aspirations derive from the type of economic system they inhabit and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/people-would-do-well-to-ask-themselves-how-many-of-their-ambitions/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [Most things in life are moments of pleasure and a lifetime of embarrassment; photography is a moment of embarrassment and a lifetime of pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/most-things-in-life-are-moments-of-pleasure-and-a-lifetime-of/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [You have to try to build support around causes. 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My wife said 'why don't you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/normally-people-give-up-parliament-because-they-want-to-do-more/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [Food movement organic food stores supplies health food products and facilitate with instrumental support in organic agriculture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/food-movement-organic-food-stores-supplies-health-food-products-and/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [We are not just here to manage capitalism but to change society and to define its finer values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/we-are-not-just-here-to-manage-capitalism-but-to-change-society-and/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [I think there are two ways in which people are controlled - first of all frighten people and secondly demoralize them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/i-think-there-are-two-ways-in-which-people-are-controlled-first-of/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [People in debt become hopeless and hopeless people don’t vote. 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