Life Quote by Erich Fromm
““formulated by John Dewey that I express the thought in his words: “The serious threat to our democracy,” he says, “is not the existence of foreign totalitarian states. It is the existence within our own personal attitudes and within our own institutions of conditions which have given a victory to external authority, discipline, uniformity and dependence upon The Leader in foreign countries.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: John Dewey Lecture, 1940s, null
The danger to democracy comes from internal attitudes and institutions that favor conformity, authority, and dependence on leaders rather than critical thinking.
In simple terms: Democracy is threatened by internal conformity and blind authority.
Key Takeaway
Encourage critical thinking and independent judgment.
Themes
democracy
authority
conformity
critical thinking
Mood
concerned
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- education reform
- organizational culture
- citizen engagement
- media literacy
Key Concepts
political philosophy
social psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do personal attitudes shape democratic health?
- What steps can institutions take to foster independence?
A Different Perspective
Overcomingcoming institutional inertia can be challenging.
