--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy is much too important to be…" description: "\"Democracy is much too important to be left to public opinion.\" — Walter Lippmann" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/walter-lippmann-1083_democracy_democracy-is-much-too-important-to-be-le_827986.jpg" --- # Democracy is much too important to be left to public… ![“Democracy is much too important to be left to public opinion.” quote by Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/walter-lippmann-1083_democracy_democracy-is-much-too-important-to-be-le_827986.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/walter-lippmann-1083_democracy_democracy-is-much-too-important-to-be-le_827986.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/walter-lippmann-1083_democracy_democracy-is-much-too-important-to-be-le_827986.jpg) > “Democracy is much too important to be left to public opinion.” [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy requires safeguards beyond fleeting public opinion to protect its essential values and stability. **In simple terms:** Democracy needs protection from volatile public sentiment. Key Takeaway Implement checks that preserve democratic principles. Themes democracy opinion stability Mood cautious analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - media regulation - civic education - policy making Key Concepts political theory public discourse institutional design Questions to Reflect On - How to balance expert oversight with citizen voice? - When should public opinion shape policy? A Different Perspective Public opinion can also guide necessary reforms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Public opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-opinion/) ## Related quotes > [Democracy is too important to be left to politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/democracy-is-too-important-to-be-left-to-politicians/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [When I left office in 1979, I was about the only one who had really left public office on my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olusegun-obasanjo/when-i-left-office-in-1979-i-was-about-the-only-one-who-had-really/) [Olusegun Obasanjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olusegun-obasanjo/) > [Some things are too important to be left to the private sector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-galloway/some-things-are-too-important-to-be-left-to-the-private-sector/) [George Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-galloway/) > [Design is too important to be left to designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-loewy/design-is-too-important-to-be-left-to-designers/) [Raymond Loewy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-loewy/) > [Never forget that music is too important to be left entirely in the hands of professionals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/never-forget-that-music-is-too-important-to-be-left-entirely-in-the/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [History is too important to be left to the historians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/history-is-too-important-to-be-left-to-the-historians/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [Government is too big and important to be left to the politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bowles/government-is-too-big-and-important-to-be-left-to-the-politicians/) [Chester Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bowles/) > [“War is too important to be left to the generals”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-clemenceau/war-is-too-important-to-be-left-to-the-generals/) [Georges Clemenceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-clemenceau/) > [Law..is too important to be left to the lawyers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-m-friedman/law-is-too-important-to-be-left-to-the-lawyers/) Lawrence M. Friedman > [Government is too big and too important to be left to the politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bowles/government-is-too-big-and-too-important-to-be-left-to-the-politicians/) [Chester Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bowles/) > [The issues are too important to be left for the voters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-issues-are-too-important-to-be-left-for-the-voters/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Politics is too important to be left to politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-rudman/politics-is-too-important-to-be-left-to-politicians/) [Warren Rudman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-rudman/) > [This is why we feel that democracy's important: because democracy allows you to have small explosions and therefore avoid the bigger explosions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/this-is-why-we-feel-that-democracy-s-important-because-democracy/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [I happen to believe that our democracy is at least as important as the economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-warnock/i-happen-to-believe-that-our-democracy-is-at-least-as-important-as/) [Raphael Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-warnock/) > [Self-censorship as a result of intimidation or social pressures, sometimes referred to as "political correctness", constitutes a serious obstacle to the proper functioning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-maurice-de-zayas/self-censorship-as-a-result-of-intimidation-or-social-pressures/) [Alfred-Maurice de Zayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-maurice-de-zayas/) ## More by Walter Lippmann > [The emancipated woman has to fight something worse than the crusted prejudices of her uncles; she has to fight the bewilderment in her own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-emancipated-woman-has-to-fight-something-worse-than-the-crusted/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Even God has been defended with nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/even-god-has-been-defended-with-nonsense/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [A better distribution of incomes would increase that efficiency by diverting a great fund of wealth from the useless to the useful members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-better-distribution-of-incomes-would-increase-that-efficiency-by/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [There is but one bond of peace that is both permanent and enriching: The increasing knowledge of the world in which experiment occurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/there-is-but-one-bond-of-peace-that-is-both-permanent-and-enriching/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. That is why there has so often been amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action-there-is-rarely-any/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-final-test-of-a-leader-is-that-he-leaves-behind-him-in-other-men/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The simple opposition between the people and big business has disappeared because the people themselves have become so deeply involved in big business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-simple-opposition-between-the-people-and-big-business-has/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [A free press is not a privilege but an organic necessity in a great society. ... A great society is simply a big and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-free-press-is-not-a-privilege-but-an-organic-necessity-in-a-great/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [“Since position and contact play so big a part in determining what can be seen, heard, read, and experienced, as well as what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/since-position-and-contact-play-so-big-a-part-in-determining-what-can/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [An alliance is like a chain. It is not made stronger by adding weak links to it. A great power like the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/an-alliance-is-like-a-chain-it-is-not-made-stronger-by-adding-weak/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The chief element in the art of statesmanship under modern conditions is the ability to elucidate the confused and clamorous interests which converge upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-chief-element-in-the-art-of-statesmanship-under-modern-conditions/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [At the core of every moral code there is a picture of human nature, a map of the universe, and a version of history.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/at-the-core-of-every-moral-code-there-is-a-picture-of-human-nature-a/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The tendency of the casual mind is to pick out or stumble upon a sample which supports or defies its prejudices, and then to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-tendency-of-the-casual-mind-is-to-pick-out-or-stumble-upon-a/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [There is only one purpose to which a whole society can be directed by a deliberate plan. That purpose is war, and there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/there-is-only-one-purpose-to-which-a-whole-society-can-be-directed-by/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [In a democracy, the opposition is not only tolerated as constitutional, but must be maintained because it is indispensable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/in-a-democracy-the-opposition-is-not-only-tolerated-as-constitutional/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) [Explore all 296 Walter Lippmann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) ## 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": "Democracy is much too important to be left to public opinion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter Lippmann" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/democracy-is-much-too-important-to-be-left-to-public-opinion/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Democracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/democracy-is-much-too-important-to-be-left-to-public-opinion/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/walter-lippmann-1083_democracy_democracy-is-much-too-important-to-be-le_827986.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/walter-lippmann-1083_democracy_democracy-is-much-too-important-to-be-le_827986.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/walter-lippmann-1083_democracy_democracy-is-much-too-important-to-be-le_827986.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Democracy is much too important to be left to public opinion.” — Walter Lippmann", "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": "Walter Lippmann", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Democracy is much too important to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/democracy-is-much-too-important-to-be-left-to-public-opinion/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/democracy-is-much-too-important-to-be-left-to-public-opinion/#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 } } ] } ```