I am obliged to confess I should sooner live in a society…
““I am obliged to confess I should sooner live in a society governed by the first two thousand names in the Boston telephone directory than in a society governed by the two thousand faculty members of Harvard University.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A society led by bureaucratic elites may be less representative than one guided by ordinary citizens
In simple terms: Ordinary people should have more influence than academic elites
Value grassroots perspectives over elite control
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- Voting reforms
- community organizing
- education policy
- media representation
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the risks of ignoring expert advice?
- How can expertise be integrated responsibly?
Elite expertise can improve decision‑making in complex issues