--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are a democratic - we are living in…" description: "\"We are a democratic - we are living in democracy.\" — Yasser Arafat" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/yasser-arafat-6821_democracy_we-are-a-democratic-we-are-living-in-dem_146241.jpg" --- # We are a democratic - we are living in democracy. ![“We are a democratic - we are living in democracy.” quote by Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/yasser-arafat-6821_democracy_we-are-a-democratic-we-are-living-in-dem_146241.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/yasser-arafat-6821_democracy_we-are-a-democratic-we-are-living-in-dem_146241.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/yasser-arafat-6821_democracy_we-are-a-democratic-we-are-living-in-dem_146241.jpg) > “We are a democratic - we are living in democracy.” [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) ## 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 presented as a universal principle, yet its practice varies widely, prompting reflection on the gap between ideals and reality. **In simple terms:** Democracy is claimed everywhere but works differently. Key Takeaway Question the reality of democratic practice. Themes politics democracy ideals Mood critical hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - elections - policy debates - civil protests - government reforms Key Concepts political theory civic engagement global governance Questions to Reflect On - What does true democracy look like in everyday life? - How can citizens hold governments accountable? A Different Perspective Democratic claims may mask systemic inequities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic/) [Democratic Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-living-1638373/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living/) [Living Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-democracy-1638372/) ## Related quotes > [The government must give men and women without power a real say over what happens to them, and the means of engaging in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blunkett/the-government-must-give-men-and-women-without-power-a-real-say-over/) [David Blunkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blunkett/) > [“The human heart is the first home of democracy. It is where we embrace our questions. Can we be equitable? Can we be generous?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/the-human-heart-is-the-first-home-of-democracy-it-is-where-we-embrace/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) > [This living in a democracy is a problem, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/this-living-in-a-democracy-is-a-problem-isn-t-it/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [I am challenging Ezer Weizman to accept the democratic state where both of us can live in this democratic state. What confederation? No. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/i-am-challenging-ezer-weizman-to-accept-the-democratic-state-where/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [ So \[Republicans\] packed all the Democrats into districts, very Democratic districts. What that's done is made our party urban, more liberal, and so those… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/so-republicans-packed-all-the-democrats-into-districts-very/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) > [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/) > ['Democratic socialism' is awful as a slogan and catastrophic as a policy. And 'social democracy' - a term that better fits the belief of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/democratic-socialism-is-awful-as-a-slogan-and-catastrophic-as-a/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [If you're going to try to win an election, you can't be 80 percent. You can't say, I'm for what my Democratic opponent is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-du-pont/if-you-re-going-to-try-to-win-an-election-you-can-t-be-80-percent-you/) [Pete du Pont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-du-pont/) > [“The rich run a global system that allows them to accumulate capital and pay the lowest possible price for labour. The freedom that results…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-moore/the-rich-run-a-global-system-that-allows-them-to-accumulate-capital/) [Charles Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-moore/) > [While living in America when I attended Harvard in the early 1970s, I saw for myself the awesome, almost miraculous, power of a people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benazir-bhutto/while-living-in-america-when-i-attended-harvard-in-the-early-1970s-i/) [Benazir Bhutto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benazir-bhutto/) > [I'm going to do everything I can to get myself elected, but that's not enough. I'm going to try to help move the Senate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-m-going-to-do-everything-i-can-to-get-myself-elected-but-that-s-not/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We fight to defend our democratic ideals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/we-fight-to-defend-our-democratic-ideals/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [If Robert Heinlein is more to your taste than George Lucas: “If you are part of a society that votes, then do so. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/if-robert-heinlein-is-more-to-your-taste-than-george-lucas-if-you-are/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [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 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/) ## More by Yasser Arafat > [We plan to eliminate the state of Israel and establish a purely Palestinian state. We will make life unbearable for Jews by psychological warfare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/we-plan-to-eliminate-the-state-of-israel-and-establish-a-purely/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [Jordan recognizes that east Jerusalem is the capital of the Palestinian state and Jordan rejects foreign sovereignty -- Israeli sovereignty -- over the holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/jordan-recognizes-that-east-jerusalem-is-the-capital-of-the/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [We have absolute support from all our masses inside our occupied territories and even outside our occupied territories. The "War of the Camps" \[in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/we-have-absolute-support-from-all-our-masses-inside-our-occupied/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [The Israelis are mistaken if they think we do not have an alternative to negotiations. By Allah I swear they are wrong. The Palestinian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/the-israelis-are-mistaken-if-they-think-we-do-not-have-an-alternative/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [When American administration will find that their interest is to follow up with the international conference and to find peace in this area, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/when-american-administration-will-find-that-their-interest-is-to/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [I am challenging Ezer Weizman to accept the democratic state where both of us can live in this democratic state. What confederation? No. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/i-am-challenging-ezer-weizman-to-accept-the-democratic-state-where/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [ When I made a big effort in '96 and it is not - I squeezed and I arrested a part of \[terroristic groups\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/when-i-made-a-big-effort-in-96-and-it-is-not-i-squeezed-and-i/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [Now you are trying to recover it through Irangate. I know that. But it will cost you a lot. And if you are speaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/now-you-are-trying-to-recover-it-through-irangate-i-know-that-but-it/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [ In 1982, when Alexander Haig and \[Ariel\] Sharon put this plan to invade the south of Lebanon and Beirut, they imagined that in two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/in-1982-when-alexander-haig-and-ariel-sharon-put-this-plan-to-invade/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [We completely condemn this very dangerous attack, and I convey my condolences to the American people, to the American president and to the American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/we-completely-condemn-this-very-dangerous-attack-and-i-convey-my/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [I know the American administration is trying to refurbish its image after Irangate, especially in the Middle East and among their friends in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/i-know-the-american-administration-is-trying-to-refurbish-its-image/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [Peace for us means the destruction of Israel. We are preparing for an all-out war, a war which will last for generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/peace-for-us-means-the-destruction-of-israel-we-are-preparing-for-an/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [Since we cannot defeat Israel in war, we do this in stages. We take any and every territory that we can of Palestine, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/since-we-cannot-defeat-israel-in-war-we-do-this-in-stages-we-take-any/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [This child, who is grasping the stone, facing the tank, is it not the greatest message to the world when that hero becomes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/this-child-who-is-grasping-the-stone-facing-the-tank-is-it-not-the/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [I send my condolences, and the condolences of the Palestinian people to American President Bush and his government and to the American people for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/i-send-my-condolences-and-the-condolences-of-the-palestinian-people/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) [Explore all 97 Yasser Arafat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) ## 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. 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