Democracy Quote by Karl R. Popper
““There is only one further use of violence in political quarrels which I should consider justified. I mean the resistance, once democracy has been attained, to any attack (whether from within or without the state) against the democratic constitution and the use of democratic methods. Any such attack, especially if it comes from the government in power, or if it is tolerated by it, should be resisted by all loyal citizens, even to the use of violence. In fact, the working of democracy rests largely upon the understanding that a government which attempts to misuse its powers and to establish itself as a tyranny (or which tolerates the establishment of a tyranny by anybody else) outlaws itself, and that the citizens have not only a right but also a duty to consider the action of such a government as a crime, and its members as a dangerous gang of criminals.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Open Society and Its Enemies, Karl R. Popper, 1945
Violence is justified only to defend democracy against internal or external threats that aim to destroy its constitutional foundations.
In simple terms: Defend democracy with force if necessary.
Key Takeaway
Protect democratic institutions.
Themes
politics
democracy
civil liberty
citizen duty
Mood
serious
defiant
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- authoring a coup
- government overreach
- civil unrest
- authoritarian drift
- defending constitutional rights
Key Concepts
social contract
tyranny
political violence
Questions to Reflect On
- When is force truly necessary to protect democracy?
- How can societies prevent abuse of defensive violence?
A Different Perspective
Violence can erode democratic norms and may be misused, leading to further conflict.
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