--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In Europe democracy is a falsehood. I do…" description: "\"In Europe democracy is a falsehood. I do not know where it will end, but it cannot end in a quiet old age.\" — Klemens von Metternich" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/klemens-von-metternich-29711_age_in-europe-democracy-is-a-falsehood-i-do_1136230.jpg" --- # In Europe democracy is a falsehood. I do not know where it… ![“In Europe democracy is a falsehood. I do not know where it will end, but it cannot end in a quiet old age.” quote by Klemens von Metternich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/klemens-von-metternich-29711_age_in-europe-democracy-is-a-falsehood-i-do_1136230.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/klemens-von-metternich-29711_age_in-europe-democracy-is-a-falsehood-i-do_1136230.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c6/klemens-von-metternich-29711_age_in-europe-democracy-is-a-falsehood-i-do_1136230.jpg) > “In Europe democracy is a falsehood. I do not know where it will end, but it cannot end in a quiet old age.” [Klemens von Metternich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klemens-von-metternich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. European democracy is an illusion that cannot end peacefully; it will culminate in conflict. **In simple terms:** Democracy in Europe is unsustainable and will end violently. Key Takeaway Prepare for turbulent political change. Themes politics history conflict Mood cautionary critical Type political historical When to use this quote - policy analysis - historical study - international relations Key Concepts realpolitik democratic theory Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives to democracy could emerge? - How can societies avoid violent collapse? A Different Perspective May overlook democratic progress in other regions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehood/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Old age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-age/) ## Related quotes > [ EU didn't advance our \[Eastern Europe\] democracy by a single millimeter. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-klaus/eu-didn-t-advance-our-eastern-europe-democracy-by-a-single-millimeter/) [Vaclav Klaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-klaus/) > [Europe is a democracy and differences of opinion are part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/europe-is-a-democracy-and-differences-of-opinion-are-part-of-it/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [A mortgaged home, an empty stomach and a ragged back know no party. We will live to write the epitaphs of the old parties:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-lease/a-mortgaged-home-an-empty-stomach-and-a-ragged-back-know-no-party-we/) [Mary Elizabeth Lease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-lease/) > [Our respect for the dead, when they are just dead, is something wonderful, and the way we show it more wonderful still. We show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/our-respect-for-the-dead-when-they-are-just-dead-is-something/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Falsehood, like the dry-rot, flourishes the more in proportion as air and light are excluded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/falsehood-like-the-dry-rot-flourishes-the-more-in-proportion-as-air/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [Whether statistics be an art or a science... or a scientific art, we concern ourselves little. It is the basis of social and political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolphe-quetelet/whether-statistics-be-an-art-or-a-science-or-a-scientific-art-we/) [Adolphe Quetelet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolphe-quetelet/) > [Tangible language, which often tells more falsehoods than truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tangible-language-which-often-tells-more-falsehoods-than-truths/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. For after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-dangerous-and-fateful-presumption-besides-the-absurd-temerity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Strange times are these in which we live when old and young are taught in falsehood's school, and the one man that dares to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/strange-times-are-these-in-which-we-live-when-old-and-young-are/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [So true is it that all transactions of preeminent importance are wrapt in doubt and obscurity; while some hold for certain facts the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/so-true-is-it-that-all-transactions-of-preeminent-importance-are/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [“Falsehood of a good man is better than truth of a bad one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/falsehood-of-a-good-man-is-better-than-truth-of-a-bad-one/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [ A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. \[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-mind-conscious-of-right-laughs-at-the-falsehoods-of-rumour-lat/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [THE ART OF PEACE is not easy. It is a fight to the finish, the slaying of evil desires and all falsehood within. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/the-art-of-peace-is-not-easy-it-is-a-fight-to-the-finish-the-slaying/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [falsehood is not more unjustifiable than unsafe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-burney/falsehood-is-not-more-unjustifiable-than-unsafe/) [Fanny Burney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-burney/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## More by Klemens von Metternich > [The events which can not be prevented, must be directed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klemens-von-metternich/the-events-which-can-not-be-prevented-must-be-directed/) [Klemens von Metternich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klemens-von-metternich/) > [When Paris sneezes, Europe catches a cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klemens-von-metternich/when-paris-sneezes-europe-catches-a-cold/) [Klemens von Metternich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klemens-von-metternich/) > [Stability is not immobility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klemens-von-metternich/stability-is-not-immobility/) [Klemens von Metternich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klemens-von-metternich/) > [Error has never approached my spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klemens-von-metternich/error-has-never-approached-my-spirit/) [Klemens von Metternich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klemens-von-metternich/) > [It is useless to close the gates against ideas; they overlap them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klemens-von-metternich/it-is-useless-to-close-the-gates-against-ideas-they-overlap-them/) [Klemens von Metternich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klemens-von-metternich/) > [Men like M. de Talleyrand are like sharp instruments with which it is dangerous to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klemens-von-metternich/men-like-m-de-talleyrand-are-like-sharp-instruments-with-which-it-is/) [Klemens von Metternich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klemens-von-metternich/) > [I have never feared that the revolution would be engendered by the universities; but that at them a whole generation of revolutionaries must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klemens-von-metternich/i-have-never-feared-that-the-revolution-would-be-engendered-by-the/) [Klemens von Metternich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klemens-von-metternich/) > [When France sneezes, all of Europe catches cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klemens-von-metternich/when-france-sneezes-all-of-europe-catches-cold/) [Klemens von Metternich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klemens-von-metternich/) > [Any plan conceived in moderation must fail when the circumstances are set in extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klemens-von-metternich/any-plan-conceived-in-moderation-must-fail-when-the-circumstances-are/) [Klemens von Metternich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klemens-von-metternich/) > [When Paris has a cold, all Europe sneezes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klemens-von-metternich/when-paris-has-a-cold-all-europe-sneezes/) [Klemens von Metternich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klemens-von-metternich/) > [The word 'Italy' is a geographical expression, a description which is useful shorthand, but has none of the political significance the efforts of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klemens-von-metternich/the-word-italy-is-a-geographical-expression-a-description-which-is/) [Klemens von Metternich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klemens-von-metternich/) > [The obvious is always least understood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klemens-von-metternich/the-obvious-is-always-least-understood/) [Klemens von Metternich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klemens-von-metternich/) > [Ten million ignorances do not constitute one knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klemens-von-metternich/ten-million-ignorances-do-not-constitute-one-knowledge/) [Klemens von Metternich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klemens-von-metternich/) > [The word 'freedom' means for me not a point of departure but a genuine point of arrival. 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