--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We talk about democracy as if it's a…" description: "\"We talk about democracy as if it's a safeguard for individual rights... Instead, it's become our way of intruding on rights, allegedly in the name of t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/jonathan-d-morris-250028_common_we-talk-about-democracy-as-if-it-s-a-saf_2243012.jpg" --- # We talk about democracy as if it's a safeguard for… ![“We talk about democracy as if it's a safeguard for individual rights... Instead, it's become our way of intruding on rights, allegedly in the name of that most collectivist of concepts: The Common Good.” quote by Jonathan D. Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/jonathan-d-morris-250028_common_we-talk-about-democracy-as-if-it-s-a-saf_2243012.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/jonathan-d-morris-250028_common_we-talk-about-democracy-as-if-it-s-a-saf_2243012.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/327/jonathan-d-morris-250028_common_we-talk-about-democracy-as-if-it-s-a-saf_2243012.jpg) > “We talk about democracy as if it's a safeguard for individual rights... Instead, it's become our way of intruding on rights, allegedly in the name of that most collectivist of concepts: The Common Good.” [Jonathan D. Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-d-morris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy, claimed to protect rights, can become a tool for collective intrusion under the guise of the common good. **In simple terms:** Democracy may infringe on individual rights. Key Takeaway Guard against collective overreach. Themes Democracy Individual Rights Common Good Collectivism Political Theory Mood critical concerned Type opinion political When to use this quote - Legislative debates - Civil rights activism - Policy analysis - Community organizing Key Concepts Liberty Authority Social Contract Power Dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What limits should be placed on collective decisions? - How can societies protect rights while pursuing common goals? A Different Perspective Balancing common good and individual liberty is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allegedly Collectivist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allegedly-collectivist-5093032/) [Collectivist Concepts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collectivist-concepts-5093033/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-good/) [Concepts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concepts/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individual rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-rights/) [Intruding Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intruding-rights-5093034/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Talk Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talk-democracy-554822/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [My own sense as an American is that we have begun to experience the disadvantages of framing virtually all moral issues in terms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/my-own-sense-as-an-american-is-that-we-have-begun-to-experience-the/) [David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/) > [Talk of democracy has little content when big business rules the life of the country through its control of the means of production, exchange,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/talk-of-democracy-has-little-content-when-big-business-rules-the-life/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [We have these old fashioned ideas. 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