Abuse Quote by Jorge Luis Borges
“Democracy is an abuse of statistics.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Illusion of Democracy, 1945
Democracy reduces complex societies to mere statistics, oversimplifying human diversity.
In simple terms: Democracy simplifies people to numbers.
Key Takeaway
Recognize limits of statistical governance.
Themes
politics
statistics
democracy
representation
complexity
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- election design
- public opinion research
- civic education
Key Concepts
Political theory
Data ethics
Sociology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can democracy incorporate lived experiences?
- What alternatives complement statistical decision‑making?
A Different Perspective
May ignore qualitative aspects of citizens.
