--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy has become, unless I mistake, a…" description: "\"Democracy has become, unless I mistake, a kind of test or shibboleth, by which we try men and measures; and this is the same as to say that it is merel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/james-vila-blake-28845_be-a-slave_democracy-has-become-unless-i-mistake-a_525864.jpg" --- # Democracy has become, unless I mistake, a kind of test or… ![“Democracy has become, unless I mistake, a kind of test or shibboleth, by which we try men and measures; and this is the same as to say that it is merely a word which is powerful with us, and not the wide and true notion of what the word means. But we must define the true import of words, and not…” quote by James Vila Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/james-vila-blake-28845_be-a-slave_democracy-has-become-unless-i-mistake-a_525864.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/james-vila-blake-28845_be-a-slave_democracy-has-become-unless-i-mistake-a_525864.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/james-vila-blake-28845_be-a-slave_democracy-has-become-unless-i-mistake-a_525864.jpg) > “Democracy has become, unless I mistake, a kind of test or shibboleth, by which we try men and measures; and this is the same as to say that it is merely a word which is powerful with us, and not the wide and true notion of what the word means. But we must define the true import of words, and not be slaves to syllables; for democracy in form is not necessarily people-power in fact, but power perhaps of a few, who cajole the many and so lead and use the people for their own ends.” [James Vila Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-vila-blake/) ## 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 reduced to a buzzword, losing its true meaning of popular power, becoming a tool for a few to manipulate many. **In simple terms:** Democracy can be a hollow term used by elites. Key Takeaway Question the substance behind political labels. Themes politics power language democracy manipulation Mood skeptical critical thoughtful Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - elections - public policy debates - media analysis - civic education Key Concepts democratic theory rhetoric elite control Questions to Reflect On - How do you distinguish genuine democratic practice from rhetoric? - What mechanisms protect against elite capture? A Different Perspective The quote may overgeneralize and ignore functional democracies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Imports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imports/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Try me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try-me/) ## Related quotes > [“When I say something, I mean what I say, despite what a dictionary says I mean. Meanings of words are slaves that I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/when-i-say-something-i-mean-what-i-say-despite-what-a-dictionary-says/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [We are masters of the unsaid words, but slaves of those we let slip out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/we-are-masters-of-the-unsaid-words-but-slaves-of-those-we-let-slip-out/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There cannot be true democracy unless women's voices are heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/there-cannot-be-true-democracy-unless-women-s-voices-are-heard/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“They shouldnt teach their immigrants' kids all about democracy unless they mean to let them have a little bit of it, it ony makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/they-shouldnt-teach-their-immigrants-kids-all-about-democracy-unless/) [James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) > [So I think one can say on empirical grounds - not because of some philosophical principle - that you can't have democracy unless you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-l-berger/so-i-think-one-can-say-on-empirical-grounds-not-because-of-some/) [Peter L. 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It is a political philosophy that can be embodied in various systems of government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-allen-fraser/democracy-is-not-a-form-of-government-it-is-a-political-philosophy/) [John Allen Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-allen-fraser/) > [The masses are the material of democracy, but its form-that is to say, the laws which express the general reason, justice, and utility-can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/the-masses-are-the-material-of-democracy-but-its-form-that-is-to-say/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [Democracy is the worst form of government. It is the most inefficient, the most clumsy, the most unpractical… It reduces wisdom to impotence and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-briffault/democracy-is-the-worst-form-of-government-it-is-the-most-inefficient/) [Robert Briffault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-briffault/) ## More by James Vila Blake > [Meditation is first quietness. We live in a great din. 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