--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have a system which, though far from…" description: "\"We have a system which, though far from perfect, is strong with idealism. It gives elbow room for men of all races and all beliefs. It is vital and dyn..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/william-o-douglas-2931_all-time_we-have-a-system-which-though-far-from-p_3023991.jpg" --- # We have a system which, though far from perfect, is strong… ![“We have a system which, though far from perfect, is strong with idealism. It gives elbow room for men of all races and all beliefs. It is vital and dynamic. And it works. We have the means of shaping the world in our pattern. If we do, freedom will be assured for all men. The decision is in the…” quote by William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/william-o-douglas-2931_all-time_we-have-a-system-which-though-far-from-p_3023991.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/william-o-douglas-2931_all-time_we-have-a-system-which-though-far-from-p_3023991.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/william-o-douglas-2931_all-time_we-have-a-system-which-though-far-from-p_3023991.jpg) > “We have a system which, though far from perfect, is strong with idealism. It gives elbow room for men of all races and all beliefs. It is vital and dynamic. And it works. We have the means of shaping the world in our pattern. If we do, freedom will be assured for all men. The decision is in the hands of this generation. It is a challenge to our political competence. For Western civilization it is the greatest challenge of all time.” [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Idealistic systems, though imperfect, empower diverse peoples and safeguard freedom when guided by capable leadership. **In simple terms:** Idealism fuels inclusive progress. Key Takeaway Champion inclusive, idealistic policies. Themes politics idealism diversity freedom Mood optimistic determined Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government reform - civil rights movements - community building Key Concepts social contract political competence Questions to Reflect On - How can we translate idealism into effective policy? - What responsibilities do leaders have to uphold these ideals? A Different Perspective Idealism alone cannot guarantee success without practical execution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Idealism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idealism/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Patterns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patterns/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [This generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-generation/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) [Western civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western-civilization/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The other aspect of idealism is the one which gives us our notion of the absolute Self. To it the first is only preparatory.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josiah-royce/the-other-aspect-of-idealism-is-the-one-which-gives-us-our-notion-of/) [Josiah Royce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josiah-royce/) > [You, as a food buyer, have the distinct privilege of proactively participating in shaping the world your children will inherit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-salatin/you-as-a-food-buyer-have-the-distinct-privilege-of-proactively/) [Joel Salatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-salatin/) > [“We think that history is created in the big things, in the big events, but history is also created in the small things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharanya-haridas/we-think-that-history-is-created-in-the-big-things-in-the-big-events/) [Sharanya Haridas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharanya-haridas/) > [Our actions in this world, and our ability to rise above the limits of our own self-interest, live on far beyond us and play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-nerburn/our-actions-in-this-world-and-our-ability-to-rise-above-the-limits-of/) [Kent Nerburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-nerburn/) > [Our beliefs do not sit passively in our brains waiting to be confirmed or contradicted by incoming information. Instead, they play a key role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wiseman/our-beliefs-do-not-sit-passively-in-our-brains-waiting-to-be/) [Richard Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wiseman/) > [“Become a person who is shaping the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/become-a-person-who-is-shaping-the-world/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [We are shaping the world faster than we can change ourselves, and we are applying to the present the habits of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/we-are-shaping-the-world-faster-than-we-can-change-ourselves-and-we/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“One's own life: an instrument for the shaping of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/one-s-own-life-an-instrument-for-the-shaping-of-the-world/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [George Orwell said, "Whoever controls the past controls the future," by which he meant that history is incredibly important in shaping the world view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/george-orwell-said-whoever-controls-the-past-controls-the-future-by/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Love, when released into the world, is like an intelligent energy that continues on and on, shaping the world in its own image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garret-john-loporto/love-when-released-into-the-world-is-like-an-intelligent-energy-that/) Garret John LoPorto > [This generation lacks true knowledge of how the past has trapped you with psychological lassos over Adam's apples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reks/this-generation-lacks-true-knowledge-of-how-the-past-has-trapped-you/) Reks > [I'm a fan boy when it comes to Michael Buble. He's just so good at 'it'. He's got a voice of this generation, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-williams/i-m-a-fan-boy-when-it-comes-to-michael-buble-he-s-just-so-good-at-it/) [Robbie Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-williams/) > [I believe in my heart that 'Avatar' is going to be the revolutionary sci-fi movie for this generation, in this era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laz-alonso/i-believe-in-my-heart-that-avatar-is-going-to-be-the-revolutionary/) [Laz Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laz-alonso/) > [What really distinguishes this generation in all countries from earlier generations ... is its determination to act, its joy in action, the assurance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/what-really-distinguishes-this-generation-in-all-countries-from/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [I'm not of this generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-manson/i-m-not-of-this-generation/) [Charles Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-manson/) ## More by William O. Douglas > [The First Amendment makes confidence in the common sense of our people and in the maturity of their judgement the great postulate of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/the-first-amendment-makes-confidence-in-the-common-sense-of-our/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [Common sense often makes good law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/common-sense-often-makes-good-law/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [Inanimate objects are sometimes parties to litigation. A ship has a legal personality, a fiction found useful for maritime purposes. The corporation sole -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/inanimate-objects-are-sometimes-parties-to-litigation-a-ship-has-a/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [Any test that turns on what is offensive to the community's standards is too loose, too capricious, too destructive of freedom of expression to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/any-test-that-turns-on-what-is-offensive-to-the-community-s-standards/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [I've often thought that if planners were botanists, zoologists, geologists, and people who know about the earth, we would have much more wisdom in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/i-ve-often-thought-that-if-planners-were-botanists-zoologists/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [I have the same confidence in the ability of our people to reject noxious literature as I have in their capacity to sort out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/i-have-the-same-confidence-in-the-ability-of-our-people-to-reject/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [The liberties of none are safe unless the liberties of all are protected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/the-liberties-of-none-are-safe-unless-the-liberties-of-all-are/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [A function of free speech under our system of government is to invite dispute. It may indeed best serve its high purpose when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/a-function-of-free-speech-under-our-system-of-government-is-to-invite/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [At the constitutional level where we work, 90 percent of any decision is emotional. The rational part of us supplies the reasons for supporting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/at-the-constitutional-level-where-we-work-90-percent-of-any-decision/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [To be whole and harmonious, man must also know the music of the beaches and the woods. He must find the thing of which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/to-be-whole-and-harmonious-man-must-also-know-the-music-of-the/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [Sunlight is the best disinfectant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/sunlight-is-the-best-disinfectant/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [We deal with a right of privacy older than the Bill of Rights-older than our political parties, older than our school system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/we-deal-with-a-right-of-privacy-older-than-the-bill-of-rights-older/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [It is our attitude toward free thought and free expression that will determine our fate. There must be no limit on the range of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/it-is-our-attitude-toward-free-thought-and-free-expression-that-will/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [The interests of the corporation state are to convert all the riches of the earth into dollars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/the-interests-of-the-corporation-state-are-to-convert-all-the-riches/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [There have always been grievances and youth has always been the agitator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/there-have-always-been-grievances-and-youth-has-always-been-the/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) [Explore all 145 William O. Douglas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) ## More All time quotes > [To be positive at all times is to ignore all that is important, sacred or valuable. To be negative at all times is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/to-be-positive-at-all-times-is-to-ignore-all-that-is-important-sacred/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I have learned so much from my dad. Perhaps the biggest thing I've learned from my dad is how to be prepared at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-sekulow/i-have-learned-so-much-from-my-dad-perhaps-the-biggest-thing-i-ve/) [Jay Sekulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-sekulow/) > [I don't know whether we think in moving images or whether we think in still images. I have a suspicion that on our hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-snow/i-don-t-know-whether-we-think-in-moving-images-or-whether-we-think-in/) [Jon Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-snow/) > [I'm big on tomato mozzarella salad. That's my favorite all-time food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-fields/i-m-big-on-tomato-mozzarella-salad-that-s-my-favorite-all-time-food/) [Jan Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-fields/) > [If you are my friend,you are down for me at all times,not just when it's convenient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-v/if-you-are-my-friend-you-are-down-for-me-at-all-times-not-just-when/) [Jasmine V](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-v/) > [At age 22 I set what I insist is an all-time record for distance hitchhiking in Bermuda shorts: 3,700 miles in three weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/at-age-22-i-set-what-i-insist-is-an-all-time-record-for-distance/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Perhaps if only once you did enjoy The thousandth part of all the happiness A heart beloved enjoys, returning love, Repentant, you would surely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torquato-tasso/perhaps-if-only-once-you-did-enjoy-the-thousandth-part-of-all-the/) [Torquato Tasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torquato-tasso/) > [I think, as a filmmaker, it's important to be honest with yourself at all times in terms of what's working and what's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-wingard/i-think-as-a-filmmaker-it-s-important-to-be-honest-with-yourself-at/) [Adam Wingard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-wingard/) > [For all the concern about bodies and weight, 'Baywatch' has three huge catering trucks on the set at all times. One for entrees, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-eggert/for-all-the-concern-about-bodies-and-weight-baywatch-has-three-huge/) [Nicole Eggert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-eggert/) > ['Lost Boys' is one of my all-time faves. I just thought it would be great to be a vampire. I remember this movie called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-headey/lost-boys-is-one-of-my-all-time-faves-i-just-thought-it-would-be/) [Lena Headey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-headey/) > [I have a constant kind of soundtrack going on at all times. I almost always have a song in my head. I'm very musically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-davie/i-have-a-constant-kind-of-soundtrack-going-on-at-all-times-i-almost/) [Erin Davie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-davie/) > [Lord, make me less like Jonah and more like Jesus. Save me from being the kind of person who cares more about my comfort,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-s-smith/lord-make-me-less-like-jonah-and-more-like-jesus-save-me-from-being/) [Colin S. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-s-smith/) > [The key is to be in a state of permanent connectedness with your inner body - to feel it at all times. This will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-key-is-to-be-in-a-state-of-permanent-connectedness-with-your/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) Browse all 1,525 All time quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have a system which, though far from perfect, is strong with idealism. It gives elbow room for men of all races and all beliefs. It is vital and dynamic. And it works. We have the means of shaping the world in our pattern. If we do, freedom will be assured for all men. The decision is in the hands of this generation. It is a challenge to our political competence. For Western civilization it is the greatest challenge of all time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William O. Douglas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/we-have-a-system-which-though-far-from-perfect-is-strong-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "All time" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/we-have-a-system-which-though-far-from-perfect-is-strong-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/william-o-douglas-2931_all-time_we-have-a-system-which-though-far-from-p_3023991.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/william-o-douglas-2931_all-time_we-have-a-system-which-though-far-from-p_3023991.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/733/william-o-douglas-2931_all-time_we-have-a-system-which-though-far-from-p_3023991.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We have a system which, though far from perfect, is strong with idealism. It gives elbow room for men of all…” — William O. Douglas", "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": "William O. Douglas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We have a system which, though...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/we-have-a-system-which-though-far-from-perfect-is-strong-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/we-have-a-system-which-though-far-from-perfect-is-strong-with/#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 } } ] } ```