--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy's got endless problems and…" description: "\"Democracy's got endless problems and faults and dangers, but it's certain the alternatives are not better.\" — W. S. Merwin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3f/w-s-merwin-10641_alternatives_democracy-s-got-endless-problems-and-fau_2785196.png" --- # Democracy's got endless problems and faults and dangers… ![“Democracy's got endless problems and faults and dangers, but it's certain the alternatives are not better.” quote by W. S. Merwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3f/w-s-merwin-10641_alternatives_democracy-s-got-endless-problems-and-fau_2785196.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3f/w-s-merwin-10641_alternatives_democracy-s-got-endless-problems-and-fau_2785196.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3f/w-s-merwin-10641_alternatives_democracy-s-got-endless-problems-and-fau_2785196.png) > “Democracy's got endless problems and faults and dangers, but it's certain the alternatives are not better.” [W. S. Merwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-merwin/) ## 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 flawed but still preferable to any alternative. **In simple terms:** Democracy has problems but is still best. Key Takeaway Accept imperfections, work to improve democracy. Themes politics government choice Mood reflective optimistic Type political philosophical When to use this quote - voting - civic engagement - policy reform Key Concepts democratic theory comparative politics Questions to Reflect On - What makes democracy worth defending? - How can we mitigate its faults? A Different Perspective Alternatives may have unseen drawbacks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems/) ## Related quotes > [“A great democracy has got to be progressive or it will soon cease to be great or a democracy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/a-great-democracy-has-got-to-be-progressive-or-it-will-soon-cease-to/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [If you want democracy, you have got to be prepared to accept the responsibilities of democracy. The people have to take part. 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It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-hoyle/if-we-haven-t-got-democracy-what-have-we-got-it-is-about-the-respect/) [Lindsay Hoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-hoyle/) > [If I go for the alternative which is false, then obviously I shall be in error; if I take the other side, then it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/if-i-go-for-the-alternative-which-is-false-then-obviously-i-shall-be/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [Maximise the alternative forms in which a user might receive a service, and the alternative sources of supply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-chipp/maximise-the-alternative-forms-in-which-a-user-might-receive-a/) Don Chipp > [The mission of Christian humility in social life is not merely to edify, but to keep minds open to many alternatives. 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Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [I am very sad that some designers are still using real fur when the fake alternatives are so effective and so easily obtainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twiggy/i-am-very-sad-that-some-designers-are-still-using-real-fur-when-the/) [Twiggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twiggy/) ## More by W. S. Merwin > [When a poem is really finished, you can't change anything. You can't move words around. You can't say, 'In other words, you mean.' No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-merwin/when-a-poem-is-really-finished-you-can-t-change-anything-you-can-t/) [W. S. Merwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-merwin/) > [We are not born to survive. Only to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-merwin/we-are-not-born-to-survive-only-to-live/) [W. S. 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