Ancient greece Quote by Gabrielle Palmer
““Western ‘civilisation’ has been based on the ideas of ancient Greece, where the concept of ‘democracy’ (government by the people) assumed that slaves and women should be without political power.22””
About This Quote
Source Book: The New Politics of the Body, 2020
Ancient Greek democracy excluded many groups, yet modern Western civilization still builds on those ideas, often ignoring past inequities.
In simple terms: Greek democracy left out slaves and women, but its ideas shape modern West.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address historic exclusions in current systems.
Themes
history
politics
gender
race
civilization
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
historical
When to use this quote
- policy reform
- education curricula
- social activism
- public discourse
Key Concepts
democracy
exclusion
legacy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we redesign institutions to be genuinely inclusive?
- What lessons from ancient exclusions apply today?
A Different Perspective
Modern systems still reflect ancient biases, limiting true inclusion.
