Government Quote by John C. Calhoun
“The Government of the absolute majority instead of the Government of the people is but the Government of the strongest interests; and when not efficiently checked, it is the most tyrannical and oppressive that can be devised.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Congressional Address, 1845
When power serves the strongest, not the people, it becomes oppressive.
In simple terms: Power for the strong harms democracy.
Key Takeaway
Demand accountability in governance.
Themes
politics
power
democracy
Mood
serious
concerned
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- elections
- policy making
- activism
Key Concepts
tyranny
majority rule
Questions to Reflect On
- How can citizens limit elite dominance?
- What safeguards protect democratic power?
A Different Perspective
Power can be checked by institutions.
![“[D]emocracy can itself be as tyrannical as a dictatorship, since it is the extent, not the source, of government power that impinges on freedom." -William F Buckley” quote by William F. Buckley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cd1/william-f-buckley-jr-2-34056_democracy_d-emocracy-can-itself-be-as-tyrannical-a_410323.jpg)
