--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The worst of all States is the democratic…" description: "\"The worst of all States is the democratic State.\" — Pierre Corneille" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/pierre-corneille-2033_all-state_the-worst-of-all-states-is-the-democrati_520558.jpg" --- # The worst of all States is the democratic State. ![“The worst of all States is the democratic State.” quote by Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/pierre-corneille-2033_all-state_the-worst-of-all-states-is-the-democrati_520558.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/pierre-corneille-2033_all-state_the-worst-of-all-states-is-the-democrati_520558.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/pierre-corneille-2033_all-state_the-worst-of-all-states-is-the-democrati_520558.jpg) > “The worst of all States is the democratic State.” [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that a democracy can become the most dangerous form of government when it devolves into mob rule or tyranny of the majority. **In simple terms:** Democracy can turn into its worst form. Key Takeaway Guard against excesses in democratic systems. Themes politics government democracy Mood cautious reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - public policy debates - civic activism - legislative reforms Key Concepts social contract majority rule tyranny of the majority Questions to Reflect On - How can societies prevent democratic excesses? - What safeguards protect against majority tyranny? A Different Perspective Democracy also protects freedoms; balance is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Despotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despotism/) [Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyranny/) ## Related quotes > [The United States, democratic and various though it is, is not an easy country for a fiction-writer to enter: the slot between the fantastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/the-united-states-democratic-and-various-though-it-is-is-not-an-easy/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [Pennsylvania is one of the worst states in country when it comes to the condition of its infrastructure, and Philadelphia isn't any better off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kroft/pennsylvania-is-one-of-the-worst-states-in-country-when-it-comes-to/) [Steve Kroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kroft/) > [“Worst States To Make A Living In 2014”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/worst-states-to-make-a-living-in-2014/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The end of despots is always odd?exhilarating to those who suffered their tyrannies, and to those who hold despotism in contempt, and anti-climatic at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fouad-ajami/the-end-of-despots-is-always-odd-exhilarating-to-those-who-suffered/) Fouad Ajami > [Revolution is engendered by an indignation with tyranny, yet is itself pregnant with tyranny… An attempt to scrutinize men's thoughts and punish their opinions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/revolution-is-engendered-by-an-indignation-with-tyranny-yet-is-itself/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [It has been said that terror is the principle of despotic government. 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The United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-u-s-the-idea-that-the-u-s-has-introduced-and-imposed-principles/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I was all-state in four sports in New Jersey, but sometimes I couldn't get served at a restaurant two blocks from my high school.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monte-irvin/i-was-all-state-in-four-sports-in-new-jersey-but-sometimes-i-couldn-t/) [Monte Irvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monte-irvin/) > [Parents would rather have their son get all-state than his team win the state championship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/parents-would-rather-have-their-son-get-all-state-than-his-team-win/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [The distrust and suspicion which men everywhere evidence toward their adversaries, at all states of historical development, may be regarded as the immediate precursor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-mannheim/the-distrust-and-suspicion-which-men-everywhere-evidence-toward-their/) [Karl Mannheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-mannheim/) > [I knew no one in this business, and the only acting I'd ever done was in a first-grade play. I understood some of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idara-victor/i-knew-no-one-in-this-business-and-the-only-acting-i-d-ever-done-was/) [Idara Victor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idara-victor/) > [Here is one optimists reason for believing unity will prevail ... within the next hundred years ... nationhood as we know it will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/strobe-talbott/here-is-one-optimists-reason-for-believing-unity-will-prevail-within/) [Strobe Talbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/strobe-talbott/) > [By 1940 the literacy figure for all states stood at 96 percent for whites. Eighty percent for blacks. Notice for all the disadvantages blacks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-suprynowicz/by-1940-the-literacy-figure-for-all-states-stood-at-96-percent-for/) [Vin Suprynowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-suprynowicz/) > [Within the next hundred years...nationhood as we know it will be obsolete; all states will recognize a single, global authority... 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