--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a democratic age, only the behavior of…" description: "\"In a democratic age, only the behavior of the authorities is subject to public criticism; that of the people themselves, never.\" — Anthony Daniels" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/899/anthony-daniels-14049_age_in-a-democratic-age-only-the-behavior-of_1133536.jpg" --- # In a democratic age, only the behavior of the authorities… ![“In a democratic age, only the behavior of the authorities is subject to public criticism; that of the people themselves, never.” quote by Anthony Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/899/anthony-daniels-14049_age_in-a-democratic-age-only-the-behavior-of_1133536.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/899/anthony-daniels-14049_age_in-a-democratic-age-only-the-behavior-of_1133536.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/899/anthony-daniels-14049_age_in-a-democratic-age-only-the-behavior-of_1133536.jpg) > “In a democratic age, only the behavior of the authorities is subject to public criticism; that of the people themselves, never.” [Anthony Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-daniels/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In democracies, authorities are open to critique, while ordinary people rarely are. **In simple terms:** Authorities are critiqued, people are not. Key Takeaway Question authority, not the masses. Themes democracy authority criticism Mood critical reflective Type political social When to use this quote - media coverage - public protests - government oversight Key Concepts political theory social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Who should be held accountable? - How can citizens be encouraged to speak up? A Different Perspective Criticizing only officials can ignore systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Authorities Subject](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authorities-subject-3126895/) [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Criticism People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism-people-470815/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic/) [Democratic Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-age-872359/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Public Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-criticism-550376/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) ## Related quotes > [What is more natural in a democratic age than that we should begin to measure the stature of a work of art-especially of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/what-is-more-natural-in-a-democratic-age-than-that-we-should-begin-to/) [Daniel J. 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