--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy is always, by nature and…" description: "\"Democracy is always, by nature and constitution, the triumph of mediocrity.\" — Indro Montanelli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95b/indro-montanelli-23829_constitution_democracy-is-always-by-nature-and-consti_3144807.jpg" --- # Democracy is always, by nature and constitution, the… ![“Democracy is always, by nature and constitution, the triumph of mediocrity.” quote by Indro Montanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95b/indro-montanelli-23829_constitution_democracy-is-always-by-nature-and-consti_3144807.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95b/indro-montanelli-23829_constitution_democracy-is-always-by-nature-and-consti_3144807.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95b/indro-montanelli-23829_constitution_democracy-is-always-by-nature-and-consti_3144807.jpg) > “Democracy is always, by nature and constitution, the triumph of mediocrity.” [Indro Montanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indro-montanelli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy can devolve into mediocrity when average preferences dominate decision‑making. **In simple terms:** Majority rule may suppress excellence. Key Takeaway Promote merit and diversity within democratic systems. Themes politics democracy mediocrity governance culture Mood critical analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - Elections - policy debates - public forums - educational curricula - media analysis Key Concepts Majority rule Meritocracy Civic responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can prevent mediocrity in democratic choices? - How does diversity enhance democratic outcomes? 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If you want to be awesome, do what no one does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-den-heijer/if-you-want-to-be-average-do-what-others-do-if-you-want-to-be-awesome/) [Alexander Den Heijer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-den-heijer/) > [Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/let-america-first-praise-mediocrity-even-in-her-children-before-she/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Only mediocrity can be trusted to be always at its best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beerbohm/only-mediocrity-can-be-trusted-to-be-always-at-its-best/) [Max Beerbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beerbohm/) > [It is an error common to many artists, who strive merely to avoid mistakes, when all our efforts should be to create positive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-steichen/it-is-an-error-common-to-many-artists-who-strive-merely-to-avoid/) [Edward Steichen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-steichen/) > [Christianity does not oppose debauchery and uncontrollable passions and the like as much as it opposes... flat mediocrity, this nauseating atmosphere, this homey, civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christianity-does-not-oppose-debauchery-and-uncontrollable-passions/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/mediocrity-knows-nothing-higher-than-itself-but-talent-instantly/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) ## More by Indro Montanelli > [An Italian university is a contradiction in terms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indro-montanelli/an-italian-university-is-a-contradiction-in-terms/) [Indro Montanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indro-montanelli/) > [The only advice that I'm in the mood to give - and that I give regularly - to young people is this: fight for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indro-montanelli/the-only-advice-that-i-m-in-the-mood-to-give-and-that-i-give/) [Indro Montanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indro-montanelli/) > [Men do not know how to appreciate and measure luck except that of others. Their own never.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indro-montanelli/men-do-not-know-how-to-appreciate-and-measure-luck-except-that-of/) [Indro Montanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indro-montanelli/) > [You give Italy Jesus Christ and you get the Roman Catholic Church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indro-montanelli/you-give-italy-jesus-christ-and-you-get-the-roman-catholic-church/) [Indro Montanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indro-montanelli/) > [Politicians do nothing but ask of us, during every expiration of a legal statute, "a gesture of trust." But here trust is not enough;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indro-montanelli/politicians-do-nothing-but-ask-of-us-during-every-expiration-of-a/) [Indro Montanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indro-montanelli/) > [The love of power excludes all others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indro-montanelli/the-love-of-power-excludes-all-others/) [Indro Montanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indro-montanelli/) > [Cynics are all moralists, and merciless too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indro-montanelli/cynics-are-all-moralists-and-merciless-too/) [Indro Montanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indro-montanelli/) > [ \[Addressed to Berlusconi who wanted to impose himself on the editorial style of "Il Giornale"\] In the art of entrepeneurship, you are certainly a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indro-montanelli/addressed-to-berlusconi-who-wanted-to-impose-himself-on-the-editorial/) [Indro Montanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indro-montanelli/) > [Certainly, for a newspaper director, to have within arm's reach a Travaglio, about whom every starring actor, supporting cast and extra of Italian political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indro-montanelli/certainly-for-a-newspaper-director-to-have-within-arm-s-reach-a/) [Indro Montanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indro-montanelli/) > [Fascism rewarded jackasses in uniform. 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Triumphant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indro-montanelli/fascism-rewarded-jackasses-in-uniform-democracy-gives-privileges-to/) [Indro Montanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indro-montanelli/) > [Italian husbands, in order to buy their wives a fur coat, spend more than all their European collegues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indro-montanelli/italian-husbands-in-order-to-buy-their-wives-a-fur-coat-spend-more/) [Indro Montanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indro-montanelli/) > [Servitude, in many cases, is not forced upon by the masters, but a temptation of the servants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indro-montanelli/servitude-in-many-cases-is-not-forced-upon-by-the-masters-but-a/) [Indro Montanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indro-montanelli/) > [I have never dreamt of contesting the Church her right to remain faithful to herself, meaning to the commandments that come from Doctrine... but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indro-montanelli/i-have-never-dreamt-of-contesting-the-church-her-right-to-remain/) [Indro Montanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indro-montanelli/) > [Which ever one of you will want to become a journalist, let him remember to choose his own master: the reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indro-montanelli/which-ever-one-of-you-will-want-to-become-a-journalist-let-him/) [Indro Montanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indro-montanelli/) > [The nice thing about political pundits is that, when they answer a question, one no longer understands what they were asked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indro-montanelli/the-nice-thing-about-political-pundits-is-that-when-they-answer-a/) [Indro Montanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indro-montanelli/) [Explore all 23 Indro Montanelli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indro-montanelli/) ## More Constitution quotes > [ Next came the Patent laws. 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