--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The national unity of a free people…" description: "\"“The national unity of a free people depends upon a sufficiently even balance of political power to make it impracticable for the administration to be ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/walter-lippmann-1083_democracy_the-national-unity-of-a-free-people-depe_2221698.jpg" --- # The national unity of a free people depends upon a… ![“The national unity of a free people depends upon a sufficiently even balance of political power to make it impracticable for the administration to be arbitrary and for the opposition to be revolutionary and irreconcilable. Where that balance no longer exists, democracy perishes. For unless all the…” quote by Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/walter-lippmann-1083_democracy_the-national-unity-of-a-free-people-depe_2221698.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/walter-lippmann-1083_democracy_the-national-unity-of-a-free-people-depe_2221698.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/396/walter-lippmann-1083_democracy_the-national-unity-of-a-free-people-depe_2221698.jpg) > ““The national unity of a free people depends upon a sufficiently even balance of political power to make it impracticable for the administration to be arbitrary and for the opposition to be revolutionary and irreconcilable. Where that balance no longer exists, democracy perishes. For unless all the citizens of a state are forced by circumstances to compromise, unless they feel that they can affect policy but that no one can wholly dominate it, unless by habit and necessity they have to give and take, freedom cannot be maintained.”” [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 needs a balanced distribution of power so no single group can dominate, forcing citizens to compromise and share influence. **In simple terms:** Balanced power prevents tyranny and keeps freedom alive. Key Takeaway Maintain power checks and encourage compromise. Themes democracy power balance freedom citizen participation Mood concerned thoughtful Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - legislative design - civic education - community decision making - conflict resolution Key Concepts political theory social contract checks and balances Questions to Reflect On - How can societies design institutions that ensure power balance? - What compromises are essential for sustaining freedom? A Different Perspective If power is too concentrated, compromise may become impossible, threatening liberty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Free people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-people/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [National unity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-unity/) [Political power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-power/) ## Related quotes > [The essence of what exists in the U.S. is not democracy but capitalism - imperialism. 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If she presented herself as the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/froma-harrop/no-female-young-old-black-or-white-could-ever-play-the-knight-on/) Froma Harrop > [“It was the period in Germany of Goethe’s highest fame. Notwithstanding his rather condescending attitude towards patriotism he had been adopted as the national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-somerset-maugham/it-was-the-period-in-germany-of-goethe-s-highest-fame-notwithstanding/) [William Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-somerset-maugham/) > [When terrorists attacked the symbols of our national unity and strength, they failed to realize that they were just symbols of our strength. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-enzi/when-terrorists-attacked-the-symbols-of-our-national-unity-and/) [Michael Enzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-enzi/) > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. 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