--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It comes from a very ancient democracy…" description: "\"“It comes from a very ancient democracy, you see...\" \"You mean, it comes from a world of lizards?\" \"No,\" said Ford, who by this time was a little more ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/395/douglas-adams-122_arthur-dent_it-comes-from-a-very-ancient-democracy-y_40577.jpg" --- # It comes from a very ancient democracy, you see..." "You… ![“It comes from a very ancient democracy, you see..." "You mean, it comes from a world of lizards?" "No," said Ford, who by this time was a little more rational and coherent than he had been, having finally had the coffee forced down him, "nothing so simple. Nothing anything like so straightforward…” quote by Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/395/douglas-adams-122_arthur-dent_it-comes-from-a-very-ancient-democracy-y_40577.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/395/douglas-adams-122_arthur-dent_it-comes-from-a-very-ancient-democracy-y_40577.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/395/douglas-adams-122_arthur-dent_it-comes-from-a-very-ancient-democracy-y_40577.jpg) > ““It comes from a very ancient democracy, you see..." "You mean, it comes from a world of lizards?" "No," said Ford, who by this time was a little more rational and coherent than he had been, having finally had the coffee forced down him, "nothing so simple. Nothing anything like so straightforward. On its world, the people are people. The leaders are lizards. The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people." "Odd," said Arthur, "I thought you said it was a democracy." "I did," said Ford. "It is." "So," said Arthur, hoping he wasn't sounding ridiculously obtuse, "why don't people get rid of the lizards?" "It honestly doesn't occur to them," said Ford. "They've all got the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they've voted in more or less approximates to the government they want." "You mean they actually vote for the lizards?" "Oh yes," said Ford with a shrug, "of course." "But," said Arthur, going for the big one again, "why?" "Because if they didn't vote for a lizard," said Ford, "the wrong lizard might get in. Got any gin?" "What?" "I said," said Ford, with an increasing air of urgency creeping into his voice, "have you got any gin?" "I'll look. Tell me about the lizards." Ford shrugged again. "Some people say that the lizards are the best thing that ever happenned to them," he said. "They're completely wrong of course, completely and utterly wrong, but someone's got to say it." "But that's terrible," said Arthur. "Listen, bud," said Ford, "if I had one Altairian dollar for every time I heard one bit of the Universe look at another bit of the Universe and say 'That's terrible' I wouldn't be sitting here like a lemon looking for a gin.”” [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage satates a satirical view of democracy where citizens unknowingly empower oppressive elites, mistaking the system for their ideal because of habitual voting and complacency. **In simple terms:** Democracy can mask authoritarian rule. Key Takeaway Blind voting sustains tyranny. Themes political satire power dynamics cognitive bias illusion of choice authoritarianism Mood ironic cynical wry Type dialogue satire philosophical When to use this quote - citizens voting for corrupt leaders - people accepting oppressive regimes - voters assuming their vote reflects desires - public complacency toward bad governance Key Concepts democratic illusion elite control voter apathy rationalization Practical Applications - political commentary - civic education Questions to Reflect On - Why do people continue to support systems that harm them? - How can awareness change voting behavior? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arthur dent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arthur-dent/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Ford prefect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ford-prefect/) [H2g2](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/h2g2/) [Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [People Are People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-are-people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [“Odd,” said Arthur, “I thought you said it was a democracy.” “I did,” said Ford. “It is.” “So,” said Arthur, hoping he wasn’t sounding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/odd-said-arthur-i-thought-you-said-it-was-a-democracy-i-did-said-ford/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“the people are people. The leaders are lizards. The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people.” “Odd,” said Arthur, “I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-people-are-people-the-leaders-are-lizards-the-people-hate-the/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Ford!" he said, "there's an infinite number of monkeys outside who want to talk to us about this script for Hamlet they've worked out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/ford-he-said-there-s-an-infinite-number-of-monkeys-outside-who-want/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“I wonder who this ship belongs to anyway," said Arthur. "Me," said Zaphod. "No. Who it really belongs to." "Really me," insisted Zaphod. "Look,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-wonder-who-this-ship-belongs-to-anyway-said-arthur-me-said-zaphod/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [But the plans were on display…” “On display? 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The infinite suns, the infinite distances between them, and yourself an invisible dot on an invisible dot, infinitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-universe-the-whole-infinite-universe-the-infinite-suns-the/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [People always make this totally artificial distinction between what is commercial and what is good. They quote that maxim "Nobody ever lost money underestimating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/people-always-make-this-totally-artificial-distinction-between-what/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/any-man-who-can-hitch-the-length-and-breadth-of-the-galaxy-rough-it/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [ Does God know he \[exists\]?" 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Hmmm. So we'll have to tell you something you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/you-come-to-me-for-advice-but-you-can-t-cope-with-anything-you-don-t/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) [Explore all 1,168 Douglas Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) ## More Arthur dent quotes > [You know," said Arthur, "it's at times like this, when I'm trapped in a Vogon airlock with a man from Betelgeuse, and about to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/you-know-said-arthur-it-s-at-times-like-this-when-i-m-trapped-in-a/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [The only person for whom the house was in any way special was Arthur Dent, and that was only because it happened to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/the-only-person-for-whom-the-house-was-in-any-way-special-was-arthur/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“When you’re young, and just emerging from the four walls of home into the wide world outside, that’s exactly when you feel so small,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/when-you-re-young-and-just-emerging-from-the-four-walls-of-home-into/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“All right," said Ford. 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It's just that I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/what-have-you-done-to-it-monkeyman-he-breathed-well-said-arthur/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Time is the worst place, so to speak, to get lost in, as Arthur Dent could testify, having been lost in both time and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/time-is-the-worst-place-so-to-speak-to-get-lost-in-as-arthur-dent/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Marvin trudged on down the corridor, still moaning. "...and then of course I've got this terrible pain in all the diodes down my left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/marvin-trudged-on-down-the-corridor-still-moaning-and-then-of-course/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Arthur Dent: What happens if I press this button? Ford Prefect: I wouldn't- Arthur Dent: Oh. Ford Prefect: What happened? 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He didn't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-see-said-arthur-dent-he-didn-t/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“At that moment the dull sound of a rumbling crash from outside filtered through the low murmur of the pub, through the sound of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/at-that-moment-the-dull-sound-of-a-rumbling-crash-from-outside/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) [Browse all 17 Arthur dent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arthur-dent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It comes from a very ancient democracy, you see...\" \"You mean, it comes from a world of lizards?\" \"No,\" said Ford, who by this time was a little more rational and coherent than he had been, having finally had the coffee forced down him, \"nothing so simple. Nothing anything like so straightforward. On its world, the people are people. The leaders are lizards. The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people.\" \"Odd,\" said Arthur, \"I thought you said it was a democracy.\" \"I did,\" said Ford. \"It is.\" \"So,\" said Arthur, hoping he wasn't sounding ridiculously obtuse, \"why don't people get rid of the lizards?\" \"It honestly doesn't occur to them,\" said Ford. \"They've all got the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they've voted in more or less approximates to the government they want.\" \"You mean they actually vote for the lizards?\" \"Oh yes,\" said Ford with a shrug, \"of course.\" \"But,\" said Arthur, going for the big one again, \"why?\" \"Because if they didn't vote for a lizard,\" said Ford, \"the wrong lizard might get in. Got any gin?\" \"What?\" \"I said,\" said Ford, with an increasing air of urgency creeping into his voice, \"have you got any gin?\" \"I'll look. Tell me about the lizards.\" Ford shrugged again. \"Some people say that the lizards are the best thing that ever happenned to them,\" he said. \"They're completely wrong of course, completely and utterly wrong, but someone's got to say it.\" \"But that's terrible,\" said Arthur. \"Listen, bud,\" said Ford, \"if I had one Altairian dollar for every time I heard one bit of the Universe look at another bit of the Universe and say 'That's terrible' I wouldn't be sitting here like a lemon looking for a gin.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Douglas Adams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/it-comes-from-a-very-ancient-democracy-you-see-you-mean-it-comes-from/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arthur dent" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/it-comes-from-a-very-ancient-democracy-you-see-you-mean-it-comes-from/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/395/douglas-adams-122_arthur-dent_it-comes-from-a-very-ancient-democracy-y_40577.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/395/douglas-adams-122_arthur-dent_it-comes-from-a-very-ancient-democracy-y_40577.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/395/douglas-adams-122_arthur-dent_it-comes-from-a-very-ancient-democracy-y_40577.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It comes from a very ancient democracy, you see...\" \"You mean, it comes from a world of lizards?\" \"No,\" said…” — Douglas Adams", "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": "Douglas Adams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It comes from a very ancient...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/it-comes-from-a-very-ancient-democracy-you-see-you-mean-it-comes-from/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/it-comes-from-a-very-ancient-democracy-you-see-you-mean-it-comes-from/#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 } } ] } ```