Assuming Quote by Friedrich August von Hayek
“All political theories assume, of course, that most individuals are very ignorant. Those who plead for liberty differ from the rest in that they include among the ignorant themselves as well as the wisest.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Constitution of Liberty (1960)
Most people lack knowledge; even liberty advocates include both ignorant and wise individuals.
In simple terms: Liberty supporters are also often uninformed.
Question assumptions about knowledge.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- education reform
- public discourse
- voting decisions
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you think education can reduce political ignorance?
- How does ignorance affect liberty?
Assumes ignorance is uniform across societies.