--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The false notion that democracy means…" description: "\"The false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.\" — Isaac Asimov" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/isaac-asimov-309_democracy_the-false-notion-that-democracy-means-th_2879804.jpg" --- # The false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is… ![“The false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” quote by Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/isaac-asimov-309_democracy_the-false-notion-that-democracy-means-th_2879804.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/isaac-asimov-309_democracy_the-false-notion-that-democracy-means-th_2879804.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/isaac-asimov-309_democracy_the-false-notion-that-democracy-means-th_2879804.jpg) > “The false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy is often mistaken as equal competence, but knowledge varies among participants. **In simple terms:** Democracy isn’t equal expertise. Key Takeaway Recognize expertise, value informed opinions. Themes democracy knowledge equality Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical political When to use this quote - voting - public debate - policy making - education campaigns Key Concepts political theory cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance equal voice with informed decision? - What role should education play in democracy? A Different Perspective Ignores that expertise can be cultivated over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) ## Related quotes > [The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/the-strain-of-anti-intellectualism-has-been-a-constant-thread-winding/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/anti-intellectualism-has-been-a-constant-thread-winding-its-way/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Perhaps our national ambition to standardize ourselves has behind it the notion that democracy means standardization. But standardization is the surest way to destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-tarbell/perhaps-our-national-ambition-to-standardize-ourselves-has-behind-it/) [Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) > [There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/there-is-a-cult-of-ignorance-in-the-united-states-and-there-has/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-nichols/there-is-a-cult-of-ignorance-in-the-united-states-and-there-always/) [Thomas M. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-nichols/) > [“Maya (illusionary vision) means ignorance of the (eternal) ‘elements’ of the ‘things’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/maya-illusionary-vision-means-ignorance-of-the-eternal-elements-of/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Modern stupidity means not ignorance but the nonthought of received ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/modern-stupidity-means-not-ignorance-but-the-nonthought-of-received/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I think the notion that we have all the democracy that money can buy strays so far from what our democracy is supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/i-think-the-notion-that-we-have-all-the-democracy-that-money-can-buy/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [A little learning is a dangerous thing, but a lot of ignorance is just as bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-edwards/a-little-learning-is-a-dangerous-thing-but-a-lot-of-ignorance-is-just/) [Bob Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-edwards/) > [“Understanding and not understanding are all in the scheme of ignorance, just a realm of the mind. This is not learning. This is your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-l-poonja-2/understanding-and-not-understanding-are-all-in-the-scheme-of/) [H.W.L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja-2/) > [Rejecting the notion that democracy and markets are the same, young people are calling for an end to the poverty, grotesque levels of economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/rejecting-the-notion-that-democracy-and-markets-are-the-same-young/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [My notion of democracy is that under it the weakest shall have the same opportunities as the strongest... no country in the world today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/my-notion-of-democracy-is-that-under-it-the-weakest-shall-have-the-2/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Ignorance was just as dynamic as knowledge, and it grew in the same proportion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/ignorance-was-just-as-dynamic-as-knowledge-and-it-grew-in-the-same/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [If I can avoid the mirror when I brush my teeth in the morning, I will. I find security and safety in the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/if-i-can-avoid-the-mirror-when-i-brush-my-teeth-in-the-morning-i-will/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [My notion of democracy is that under it the weakest shall have the same opportunities as the strongest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/my-notion-of-democracy-is-that-under-it-the-weakest-shall-have-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## More by Isaac Asimov > [The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/the-strain-of-anti-intellectualism-has-been-a-constant-thread-winding/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Suppose that we are wise enough to learn and know-and yet not wise enough to control our learning and knowledge, so that we use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/suppose-that-we-are-wise-enough-to-learn-and-know-and-yet-not-wise/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Uncertainty that comes from knowledge (knowing what you don't know) is different from uncertainty coming from ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/uncertainty-that-comes-from-knowledge-knowing-what-you-don-t-know-is/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“Don't you see? It's Galaxy-wide. It's a worship of the past. It's a deterioration - a stagnation!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/don-t-you-see-it-s-galaxy-wide-it-s-a-worship-of-the-past-it-s-a/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [So the universe is not quite as you thought it was. You'd better rearrange your beliefs, then. Because you certainly can't rearrange the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/so-the-universe-is-not-quite-as-you-thought-it-was-you-d-better/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [It is in meeting the great tests that mankind can most successfully rise to great heights. Out of danger and restless insecurity comes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/it-is-in-meeting-the-great-tests-that-mankind-can-most-successfully/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“It might seem to you, Peter, that a truck driver, one step above an ape in your view, can't remember. But truck drivers can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/it-might-seem-to-you-peter-that-a-truck-driver-one-step-above-an-ape/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [When life is so harsh that a man loses all hope in himself, then he raises his eyes to a shining rock, worshipping it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/when-life-is-so-harsh-that-a-man-loses-all-hope-in-himself-then-he/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“You are a military man and should know better. If there is one science into which man has probed continuously and successfully, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/you-are-a-military-man-and-should-know-better-if-there-is-one-science/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“temperatura constante de mais ou menos 21 graus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/temperatura-constante-de-mais-ou-menos-21-graus/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“Human beings can tolerate an immortal robot, for it doesn't matter how long a machine lasts, but they cannot tolerate an immortal human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/human-beings-can-tolerate-an-immortal-robot-for-it-doesn-t-matter-how/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“if people believe this, they would act on that belief. Many a prophecy, by the mere force of its being believed, is transmuted”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/if-people-believe-this-they-would-act-on-that-belief-many-a-prophecy/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [I do not use airplanes. They strike me as unsporting. You can have an automobile accident-and survive. You can be on a sinking ship-and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/i-do-not-use-airplanes-they-strike-me-as-unsporting-you-can-have-an/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [There are many aspects of the universe that still cannot be explained satisfactorily by science; but ignorance implies only ignorance that may someday be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/there-are-many-aspects-of-the-universe-that-still-cannot-be-explained/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. \[The Second Law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/a-robot-must-obey-the-orders-given-it-by-human-beings-except-where/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) [Explore all 671 Isaac Asimov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) ## More Democracy quotes > [Elections belong to the people. 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But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/) [Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/) [Franklin D. 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