Agree Quote by James Fitzjames Stephen
“Parliamentary government is simply a mild and disguised form of compulsion. We agree to try strength by counting heads instead of breaking heads, but the principle is exactly the same... The minority gives way not because it is convinced that it is wrong, but because it is convinced that it is a minority.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, 1874
Government uses popular consent to enforce authority, similar to overt force.
In simple terms: Democracy can mask coercion.
Beware of majority rule abuses.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- voting systems
- legislative processes
- civil rights activism
- organizational leadership
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- When does consensus become coercion?
- How to protect dissenting voices?
Minorities may be pressured without genuine agreement.