Democracy Quote by Peter Singer
““If we reject, as we must, the doctrine that the majority is always right, to submit moral issues to the vote is to gamble that what we believe to be right will come out of the ballot with more votes behind it than what we believe to be wrong; and that is a gamble we will often lose.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Moral Limits of the Majority”, 1995
Democracy can misjudge morality; majority vote isn’t a reliable moral compass.
In simple terms: Majority ≠ moral truth.
Key Takeaway
Question democratic assumptions.
Themes
ethics
politics
democracy
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- policy making
- voting
- public debates
- activism
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
social choice theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How to improve moral decision‑making in elections?
- What safeguards ensure minority rights?
A Different Perspective
Majorities can protect rights when informed.
![“Nineteen thousand children [are] dying every day. Does it really matter that we're not walking past them in the street? Does it really matter that they're far away? I don't think it does make a morally relevant difference.” quote by Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cc1/peter-singer-1001_children_nineteen-thousand-children-are-dying-eve_33961.jpg)
![“Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This [presidential] election is about every man, woman and child in our country who deserves to live in safety, prosperity and peace, so true.” quote by Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/18e/donald-trump-18_children_vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-se_1553.jpg)
