--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We make a great mistake in supposing all…" description: "\"We make a great mistake in supposing all people are capable of self-government.\" — John C. Calhoun" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a95/john-c-calhoun-4136_capable_we-make-a-great-mistake-in-supposing-all_2805107.png" --- # We make a great mistake in supposing all people are… ![“We make a great mistake in supposing all people are capable of self-government.” quote by John C. Calhoun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a95/john-c-calhoun-4136_capable_we-make-a-great-mistake-in-supposing-all_2805107.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a95/john-c-calhoun-4136_capable_we-make-a-great-mistake-in-supposing-all_2805107.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a95/john-c-calhoun-4136_capable_we-make-a-great-mistake-in-supposing-all_2805107.png) > “We make a great mistake in supposing all people are capable of self-government.” [John C. Calhoun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-calhoun/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Warns that assuming universal capacity for self-rule is a grave error. **In simple terms:** Not everyone can govern themselves. Key Takeaway Recognize limits of democratic assumptions. Themes politics human nature governance Mood cautious analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - education - citizen participation Key Concepts philosophy political theory Questions to Reflect On - Are there societies that thrive without self-government? - How do we balance liberty with guidance? A Different Perspective Overgeneralization can ignore cultural differences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [There is a glory in a great mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/there-is-a-glory-in-a-great-mistake/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) > [The great mistake is to anticipate the outcome of the engagement; you ought not to be thinking of whether it ends in victory or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-great-mistake-is-to-anticipate-the-outcome-of-the-engagement-you/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [There is no mistake so great as the mistake of not going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/there-is-no-mistake-so-great-as-the-mistake-of-not-going-on/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [“It is a great mistake to say ”Conquer it,” for we can never conquer nature; we can only harmonize with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyomay-m-kubose/it-is-a-great-mistake-to-say-conquer-it-for-we-can-never-conquer/) [Gyomay M. 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