--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The \"democratic spirit\"... [or the…" description: "\"“The \"democratic spirit\"... [or the campaign to make everyone the same] leads to a nation without great men, a nation mainly of subliterates, full of t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cd/c-s-lewis-121_democracy_the-democratic-spirit-or-the-campaign-to_970335.jpg" --- # The "democratic spirit"... \[or the campaign to make… ![“The "democratic spirit"... [or the campaign to make everyone the same] leads to a nation without great men, a nation mainly of subliterates, full of the cocksureness which flattery breeds on ignorance, and quick to snarl or whimper at the first hint of criticism.” quote by C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cd/c-s-lewis-121_democracy_the-democratic-spirit-or-the-campaign-to_970335.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cd/c-s-lewis-121_democracy_the-democratic-spirit-or-the-campaign-to_970335.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cd/c-s-lewis-121_democracy_the-democratic-spirit-or-the-campaign-to_970335.jpg) > ““The "democratic spirit"... \[or the campaign to make everyone the same\] leads to a nation without great men, a nation mainly of subliterates, full of the cocksureness which flattery breeds on ignorance, and quick to snarl or whimper at the first hint of criticism.”” [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lewis warns that enforced uniformity suppresses exceptional individuals, creating a populace of mediocrity driven by flattery and fear of criticism. **In simple terms:** Uniformity kills greatness, leading to mediocrity and fear of critique. Key Takeaway Encourage diverse thought and protect dissent. Themes society individualism education Mood cautionary reflective Type philosophical political essay When to use this quote - public policy - school curricula - media discourse - leadership training Key Concepts democracy conformity intellectual freedom Questions to Reflect On - How can societies value both equality and excellence? - What safeguards protect critical voices? A Different Perspective May overlook benefits of social equality and shared standards. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Great men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-men/) [Liberalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberalism/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [International affairs must be completely permeated with scientific methodology and a democratic spirit, with a fearless weighing of all facts, views, and theories, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-sakharov/international-affairs-must-be-completely-permeated-with-scientific/) [Andrei Sakharov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-sakharov/) > [“true Democratic Spirit is up there with religious faith and emotional maturity and all those other top-of-the-Maslow-Pyramid-type qualities that people spend their whole lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/true-democratic-spirit-is-up-there-with-religious-faith-and-emotional/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“Like all the other officers at Group Headquarters except Major Danby, Colonel Cathcart was infused with the democratic spirit: he believed that all men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/like-all-the-other-officers-at-group-headquarters-except-major-danby/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“The real origin of the democratic spirit - and most likely, many democratic institutions - lies precisely in those spaces of improvisation just outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-graeber/the-real-origin-of-the-democratic-spirit-and-most-likely-many/) [David Graeber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-graeber/) > [ One reason--perhaps the chief--of the virility of the Roosevelts is \[their\] very democratic spirit. 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