Under a democratical government the citizens exercise the…
“Under a democratical government the citizens exercise the powers of sovereignty; and those powers will be first abused, and afterwards lost, if they are committed to an unwieldy multitude.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Democratic power can be misused and lost when too many uncoordinated voices compete.
In simple terms: Too many voices can corrupt democracy.
Structure participation to prevent abuse.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- elections
- public forums
- policy debates
- civic education
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance participation with order?
- What safeguards protect against power abuse?
Strong centralization can also threaten liberty.