Quote by Thomas Jefferson

A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.

A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one p

Summary

This quote suggests that a democracy, despite its idealistic notion of majority rule, can easily lead to oppression and the violation of minority rights. It argues that when decisions are made by a simple majority, there is a risk of disregarding the needs and interests of the minority. The quote implies that a true democracy should not prioritize sheer numerical advantage but rather ensure the protection and representation of all citizens, regardless of their numerical strength.

Topics

Politics Justice Democracy Tyranny Perspective Majority Minority

By Thomas Jefferson

Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

First, take the government of the Indians out of politics se

First, take the government of the Indians out of politics second, let the laws of the Indians be the same as those of the whites third, give the Indian the ballot.

Politics

A dog that has rabies probably will do things it wouldn't do

A dog that has rabies probably will do things it wouldn't do if it didn't have rabies. But that doesn't change the fact that it has rabies.

Change

Every time a woman makes herself laugh at her husband's ofte

Every time a woman makes herself laugh at her husband's often-told jokes she betrays him. The man who looks at his woman and says What would I do without you? is already destroyed.

Marriage

Imagination is a quality that was given to man compensate hi

Imagination is a quality that was given to man compensate him from whats not. The sense of humor was given to console him from what is.

Dad

Science views the blood-building and character-influencing u

Science views the blood-building and character-influencing ur-organism water merely as a chemical compound and provides millions of people with a liquid prepared from this point of view, which is everything but healthy water.

Viktor Schauberger

Science People Character

The final mystery is oneself.

The final mystery is oneself.

Mystery Self Knowledge Selfawareness

Concerns about the size and role of government are what seem

Concerns about the size and role of government are what seem to leave reformers stammering and speechless in town-hall meetings. The right wants to have a debate over fundamental principles elected Democrats seem incapable of giving it to them.

Government

Never follow somebody else's path it doesn't work the same w

Never follow somebody else's path it doesn't work the same way twice for anyone... the path follows you and rolls up behind you as you walk, forcing the next person to find their own way.

J. Michael Straczynski

Work

Frogs have it easy, they can eat what bugs them

Frogs have it easy, they can eat what bugs them

Adversity

But this is not difficult, O Athenians! to escape death; but

But this is not difficult, O Athenians! to escape death; but it is much more difficult to avoid depravity, for it runs swifter than death. And now I, being slow and aged, am overtaken by the slower of the two; but my accusers, being strong and active, have been overtaken by the swifter, wickedness. And now I depart, condemned by you to death; but they condemned by truth, as guilty of iniquity and injustice: and I abide my sentence, and so do they. These things, perhaps, ought so to be, and I think that they are for the best.

Kindlehighlight

Americans. They came right out with things. Hitchens family

Americans. They came right out with things. Hitchens family lore related the tale of how once, when I was but a toddler, my parents were passing with me through an airport and ran into some Yanks. 'Real cute kid,' said these big and brash people without troubling to make a formal introduction. They insisted on photographing me and, before breaking off to resume their American lives, pressed into my dimpled fist a signed dollar bill in token of my cuteness. This story was often told (I expect that Yvonne and the Commander had been to an airport together perhaps three times in their lives) and always with a note of condescension. That was Americans for you: wanting to be friendly all right, but so loud, and inclined to flash the cash.

Christopher Hitchens

Americans

Being good is commendable, but only when it is combined with

Being good is commendable, but only when it is combined with doing good is it useful

Life Good Commendable Useful