Democracy Quote by Franklin Delano Roosevelt
““The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism -- ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power… Among us today a concentration of private power without equal in history is growing.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Fireside Chat, 1935, United States
Democracy is threatened when private power outpaces the state, leading to authoritarian control.
In simple terms: Too much private power harms democracy.
Key Takeaway
Guard against concentration of private power.
Themes
democracy
power
authoritarianism
Mood
concerned
serious
Type
political
warning
When to use this quote
- government policy
- corporate regulation
- public advocacy
- citizen vigilance
Key Concepts
political theory
checks and balances
Questions to Reflect On
- How can citizens effectively limit private power?
- What safeguards protect democratic institutions?
A Different Perspective
Power can be hard to measure and resist without clear mechanisms.
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