--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy is four wolves and a lamb…" description: "\"Democracy is four wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/ambrose-bierce-140_american-democracy_democracy-is-four-wolves-and-a-lamb-voti_2424037.jpg" --- # Democracy is four wolves and a lamb voting on what to have… ![“Democracy is four wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/ambrose-bierce-140_american-democracy_democracy-is-four-wolves-and-a-lamb-voti_2424037.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/ambrose-bierce-140_american-democracy_democracy-is-four-wolves-and-a-lamb-voti_2424037.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/ambrose-bierce-140_american-democracy_democracy-is-four-wolves-and-a-lamb-voti_2424037.jpg) > “Democracy is four wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A satirical warning that majority rule can be dominated by powerful interests at the expense of the vulnerable. **In simple terms:** Majority can oppress minorities. Key Takeaway Guard minority rights. Themes politics justice power democracy ethics Mood cynical critical reflective Type satire political commentary. When to use this quote - elections - policy making - community meetings - corporate governance Key Concepts majoritarianism tyranny of the majority social contract Questions to Reflect On - How do we protect minorities in democratic systems? - What mechanisms prevent majority oppression? A Different Perspective Assumes all participants act rationally, ignoring manipulation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-democracy/) [American voters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-voters/) [Anti conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-conservative/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy in america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-in-america/) [Democratic country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-country/) [Democratic republic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-republic/) [Firearms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firearms/) [Forms of government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forms-of-government/) [Founding fathers democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founding-fathers-democracy/) [Great conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-conservative/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Gun control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun-control/) [Liberal democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal-democracy/) [Not voting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-voting/) [Patriot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriot/) [Pro gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pro-gun/) [Total war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/total-war/) [Two wolves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-wolves/) [Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyranny/) [Tyranny founding fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyranny-founding-fathers/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [Voters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voters/) [Voting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting/) [Voting and democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting-and-democracy/) [Voting founding fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting-founding-fathers/) ## Related quotes > [Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/democracy-is-two-wolves-and-a-lamb-voting-on-what-to-have-for-lunch/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [You can't have five wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for dinner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/you-can-t-have-five-wolves-and-one-sheep-voting-on-what-to-have-for/) [Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/) > [Don't buy a single vote more than necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-william-jerrold/don-t-buy-a-single-vote-more-than-necessary/) [Douglas William Jerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-william-jerrold/) > [Democracy is not freedom. Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to eat for lunch. Freedom comes from the recognition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/democracy-is-not-freedom-democracy-is-two-wolves-and-a-lamb-voting-on-3/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/democracy-must-be-something-more-than-two-wolves-and-a-sheep-voting/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [“Democracy is not freedom. Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to eat for lunch. Freedom comes from the recognition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-simkin/democracy-is-not-freedom-democracy-is-two-wolves-and-a-lamb-voting-on-2/) Marvin Simkin > [Democracy is four wolves and a sheep voting on dinner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/democracy-is-four-wolves-and-a-sheep-voting-on-dinner/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Democracy is not freedom. Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to eat for lunch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-napolitano/democracy-is-not-freedom-democracy-is-two-wolves-and-a-lamb-voting-on/) [Andrew Napolitano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-napolitano/) > [The one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the majority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/the-one-pervading-evil-of-democracy-is-the-tyranny-of-the-majority/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/let-us-never-forget-that-government-is-ourselves-and-not-an-alien/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Education is a human right with immense power to transform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/education-is-a-human-right-with-immense-power-to-transform/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover they can vote themselves largesse out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fraser-tytler/democracy-cannot-exist-as-a-permanent-form-of-government-it-can-only/) [Alexander Fraser Tytler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fraser-tytler/) > [A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until a majority of voters discover that they can vote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fraser-tytler/a-democracy-cannot-exist-as-a-permanent-form-of-government-it-can/) [Alexander Fraser Tytler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fraser-tytler/) > [The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/the-strain-of-anti-intellectualism-has-been-a-constant-thread-winding/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More American democracy quotes > [ Elvis \[Presley\] had a stepstool, if you will, to success because he came from the dominant culture. They identified with him. Michael Jackson had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/elvis-presley-had-a-stepstool-if-you-will-to-success-because-he-came/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [That's what separates out American democracy from dictators and horrible governments across the world and the reason why that works is that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-chamberlain/that-s-what-separates-out-american-democracy-from-dictators-and/) Charles R. Chamberlain > [This will be the day when we shall bring into full realization the dream of American democracy -- a dream yet unfulfilled. A dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/this-will-be-the-day-when-we-shall-bring-into-full-realization-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [This has all the appearance of a foreign power trying to undermine structures of legitimacy of an American election. That is a serious matter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gerson/this-has-all-the-appearance-of-a-foreign-power-trying-to-undermine/) [Michael Gerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gerson/) > [Men like Abraham Lincoln recognized that if the slaveholders were not stopped, it would only be a question of time until they spread their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-cox-richardson/men-like-abraham-lincoln-recognized-that-if-the-slaveholders-were-not/) [Heather Cox Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-cox-richardson/) > [These communities that are losing local news coverage are losing something deeper. They're losing a connection to American democracy. And those connections must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/these-communities-that-are-losing-local-news-coverage-are-losing/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [“Today you go into make a modern recording with all this technology. The bass plays first, then the drums come in later, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/today-you-go-into-make-a-modern-recording-with-all-this-technology/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [As a result of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, American democracy is being undermined by the ability of the Koch brothers and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/as-a-result-of-the-citizens-united-supreme-court-decision-american/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [If everyone on the Court always voted for the prosecution against the defendant, for the corporation against the plaintiffs, and for the government against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/if-everyone-on-the-court-always-voted-for-the-prosecution-against-the/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) > [Political violence has no place in Pennsylvania - the birthplace of American democracy - nor anywhere else across this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-shapiro/political-violence-has-no-place-in-pennsylvania-the-birthplace-of/) [Josh Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-shapiro/) > [The atomic weapons race and the secrecy surrounding it crushed American democracy. It induced us to conduct government according to lies. It distorted justice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/the-atomic-weapons-race-and-the-secrecy-surrounding-it-crushed/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [I have no doubt that there are Russian efforts to disturb the fabric of American democracy, but they're disruption efforts. They're troublemaking efforts. They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/i-have-no-doubt-that-there-are-russian-efforts-to-disturb-the-fabric/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [“Still, it strikes me that, taken together, they do make an argument, and it is this: the rise of American democracy is bound up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-lepore/still-it-strikes-me-that-taken-together-they-do-make-an-argument-and/) [Jill Lepore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-lepore/) > [Mr Jefferson meant that the American system should be a democracy, and he would rather have let the whole world perish than that this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/mr-jefferson-meant-that-the-american-system-should-be-a-democracy-and/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [I have no doubt that there are Russian efforts to disturb the fabric of American democracy, but they're disruption efforts. The working theory behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/i-have-no-doubt-that-there-are-russian-efforts-to-disturb-the-fabric-2/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) [Browse all 168 American democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-democracy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Democracy is four wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ambrose Bierce" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/democracy-is-four-wolves-and-a-lamb-voting-on-what-to-have-for-lunch/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American democracy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/democracy-is-four-wolves-and-a-lamb-voting-on-what-to-have-for-lunch/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/ambrose-bierce-140_american-democracy_democracy-is-four-wolves-and-a-lamb-voti_2424037.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/ambrose-bierce-140_american-democracy_democracy-is-four-wolves-and-a-lamb-voti_2424037.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03d/ambrose-bierce-140_american-democracy_democracy-is-four-wolves-and-a-lamb-voti_2424037.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Democracy is four wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.” — Ambrose Bierce", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ambrose Bierce", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Democracy is four wolves and a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/democracy-is-four-wolves-and-a-lamb-voting-on-what-to-have-for-lunch/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/democracy-is-four-wolves-and-a-lamb-voting-on-what-to-have-for-lunch/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```