Commit Quote by John Adams
“Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Private Correspondence, 1798
Democracy tends to self‑destruct, exhausting resources and ending in violence.
In simple terms: Democracy often collapses on its own.
Beware of democracy’s fragility.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- political analysis
- civic education
- policy making
- historical study
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards prevent democratic decay?
- How can societies renew democratic vigor?
Democracy can also produce stability and progress.