The experience of democracy is like the experience of life itself-always changing, infinite in its variety, sometimes turbulent and all the more valuable for having been tested by adversity.

Carter likens democracy to lived experience: dynamic rather than fixed, plural rather than uniform, and periodically unsettled. The comparison emphasizes that democratic governance is not a finished product but an ongoing process shaped by changing circumstances and competing voices. By calling turbulence and adversity “valuable,” the line suggests that stress tests—conflict, crisis, and even failure—can strengthen democratic habits, institutions, and civic character, much as hardship can deepen individual maturity. The quote thus frames democracy’s imperfections not as disqualifying flaws but as evidence of vitality and resilience, implying that endurance through difficulty is part of what gives democratic life its worth.