--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The laws of democracy remain a dead…" description: "\"The laws of democracy remain a dead letter, its freedom is anarchy, its equality the equality of unequals\" — Plato" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/942/plato-103_anarchy_the-laws-of-democracy-remain-a-dead-lett_1983650.jpg" --- # The laws of democracy remain a dead letter, its freedom is… ![“The laws of democracy remain a dead letter, its freedom is anarchy, its equality the equality of unequals” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/942/plato-103_anarchy_the-laws-of-democracy-remain-a-dead-lett_1983650.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/942/plato-103_anarchy_the-laws-of-democracy-remain-a-dead-lett_1983650.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/942/plato-103_anarchy_the-laws-of-democracy-remain-a-dead-lett_1983650.jpg) > “The laws of democracy remain a dead letter, its freedom is anarchy, its equality the equality of unequals” [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy is portrayed as ineffective, where freedom leads to chaos and equality is superficial. **In simple terms:** Democracy is flawed, leading to chaos and false equality. Key Takeaway Question the true nature of democratic freedoms. Themes politics philosophy society Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical questioning When to use this quote - government policy - social movements - public discourse Key Concepts democracy anarchy inequality Questions to Reflect On - Is true equality achievable in democracy? - What are the limits of freedom? A Different Perspective Idealistic views may overlook practical complexities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anarchy/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) ## Related quotes > [Today we have people who think that they are wild and free and crazy because they are engaging in risky, insane, round-the-clock sex, using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/today-we-have-people-who-think-that-they-are-wild-and-free-and-crazy/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [We want a free market, but we know that the paradox of a 'free' market is that sometimes you have to intervene. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margrethe-vestager/we-want-a-free-market-but-we-know-that-the-paradox-of-a-free-market/) [Margrethe Vestager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margrethe-vestager/) > [If American democracy is to remain the greatest hope of humanity, it must continue abundantly in the faith of the Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/if-american-democracy-is-to-remain-the-greatest-hope-of-humanity-it/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [A free culture is not a culture without property; it is not a culture in which artists don't get paid. A culture without property,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/a-free-culture-is-not-a-culture-without-property-it-is-not-a-culture/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [“Africa must remain on the path of democracy. But democracy MUST also remain about the PEOPLE, not about power”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fela-durotoye/africa-must-remain-on-the-path-of-democracy-but-democracy-must-also/) [Fela Durotoye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fela-durotoye/) > [He who seeks equality between unequals seeks an absurdity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/he-who-seeks-equality-between-unequals-seeks-an-absurdity/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [I think preaching equality among unequals is the worst form of discrimination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-chidambaram/i-think-preaching-equality-among-unequals-is-the-worst-form-of/) [P. Chidambaram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-chidambaram/) > [The Procrustean bed is not a symbol of equality. It is no less inequality to have equality among unequals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-frankfurter/the-procrustean-bed-is-not-a-symbol-of-equality-it-is-no-less/) [Felix Frankfurter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-frankfurter/) > [Democracy leads to anarchy, which is mob rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/democracy-leads-to-anarchy-which-is-mob-rule/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Perhaps it is this theory of all work and no play that has made the Marxist such a very dull boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/perhaps-it-is-this-theory-of-all-work-and-no-play-that-has-made-the/) [Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/) > [“Anarchy Evolution: Faith, Science and Bad Religion in a World Without God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/anarchy-evolution-faith-science-and-bad-religion-in-a-world-without/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [So far I'm still standing on 'Sons of Anarchy' but all the rest of the people on the show have me in their crosshairs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-pileggi/so-far-i-m-still-standing-on-sons-of-anarchy-but-all-the-rest-of-the/) Mitch Pileggi > [The law is the collective organization of the individual's right to lawful defense of his life, liberty and property. When it is used for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-is-the-collective-organization-of-the-individual-s-right-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [The "health, education, and welfare" section of government is another boondoggle. First we manufacture indigent and superfluous people by legal monopolies in land, money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurance-labadie/the-health-education-and-welfare-section-of-government-is-another/) [Laurance Labadie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurance-labadie/) > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) ## More by Plato > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [You may be sure, dear Crito, that inaccurate language is not only in itself a mistake: it implants evil in men's souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/you-may-be-sure-dear-crito-that-inaccurate-language-is-not-only-in/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“If men learn this, it will implant forgetfulness in their souls; they will cease to exercise memory because they rely on that which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/if-men-learn-this-it-will-implant-forgetfulness-in-their-souls-they/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/knowledge-which-is-acquired-under-compulsion-obtains-no-hold-on-the/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I do not think it is permitted that a better man be harmed by a worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-do-not-think-it-is-permitted-that-a-better-man-be-harmed-by-a-worse/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Any city, however small, is in fact divided into two, one the city of the poor, the other of the rich; these are at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/any-city-however-small-is-in-fact-divided-into-two-one-the-city-of/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody may believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-men-speak-ill-of-thee-live-so-as-nobody-may-believe-them/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“The love of man to woman is a thing common and of course, and at first partakes more of instinct and passion than of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-love-of-man-to-woman-is-a-thing-common-and-of-course-and-at-first/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [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/) > [“He was a wise man who invented God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/he-was-a-wise-man-who-invented-god/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [For let me tell you, that the more the pleasures of the body fade away, the greater to me is the pleasure and charm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-let-me-tell-you-that-the-more-the-pleasures-of-the-body-fade-away/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“What shall we say about those spectators, then, who can see a plurality of beautiful things, but not beauty itself, and who are incapable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/what-shall-we-say-about-those-spectators-then-who-can-see-a-plurality/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Geometry existed before creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/geometry-existed-before-creation/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [When men speak ill of thee, live so that nobody will believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-men-speak-ill-of-thee-live-so-that-nobody-will-believe-them/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [We must, if we are to be consistent, and if we re to have a real pedigree herd, mate the best of our men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/we-must-if-we-are-to-be-consistent-and-if-we-re-to-have-a-real/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) [Explore all 1,278 Plato quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More Anarchy quotes > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [The "health, education, and welfare" section of government is another boondoggle. First we manufacture indigent and superfluous people by legal monopolies in land, money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurance-labadie/the-health-education-and-welfare-section-of-government-is-another/) [Laurance Labadie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurance-labadie/) > [The law is the collective organization of the individual's right to lawful defense of his life, liberty and property. When it is used for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-is-the-collective-organization-of-the-individual-s-right-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [So far I'm still standing on 'Sons of Anarchy' but all the rest of the people on the show have me in their crosshairs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-pileggi/so-far-i-m-still-standing-on-sons-of-anarchy-but-all-the-rest-of-the/) Mitch Pileggi > [“Anarchy Evolution: Faith, Science and Bad Religion in a World Without God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/anarchy-evolution-faith-science-and-bad-religion-in-a-world-without/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [Perhaps it is this theory of all work and no play that has made the Marxist such a very dull boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-read/perhaps-it-is-this-theory-of-all-work-and-no-play-that-has-made-the/) [Herbert Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-read/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [In morals as in politics anarchy is not for the weak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/in-morals-as-in-politics-anarchy-is-not-for-the-weak/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [I think that if you run a big company, you've got to, four or five times a year, just say, 'Hey team, look, here's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-immelt/i-think-that-if-you-run-a-big-company-you-ve-got-to-four-or-five/) [Jeffrey R. Immelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-immelt/) > [Where you have no religion, you are sure to have no government, for as religion disappears, anarchy takes place and fixes a compleat Hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-morgan/where-you-have-no-religion-you-are-sure-to-have-no-government-for-as/) [Daniel Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-morgan/) > [What a comfort it is to feel that amid the chaos and anarchy which sweep the surface, God is holding fast the foundations on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-b-meyer/what-a-comfort-it-is-to-feel-that-amid-the-chaos-and-anarchy-which/) [F.B. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-b-meyer/) > [“An anarchist government somehow creates an impression in the hearts of citizens that no one cares.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-anarchist-government-somehow-creates-an-impression-in-the-hearts/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Would you like to do something good for the future of the human race; well, start killing some of its powerful members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-brown/would-you-like-to-do-something-good-for-the-future-of-the-human-race/) [William C. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-brown/) > [“twenty-three years of RFRAs to produce anarchy,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/twenty-three-years-of-rfras-to-produce-anarchy/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) > [Freedom is that faculty that enlarges the usefulness of all other faculties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/freedom-is-that-faculty-that-enlarges-the-usefulness-of-all-other/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) [Browse all 795 Anarchy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anarchy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The laws of democracy remain a dead letter, its freedom is anarchy, its equality the equality of unequals", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plato" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-laws-of-democracy-remain-a-dead-letter-its-freedom-is-anarchy-its/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anarchy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-laws-of-democracy-remain-a-dead-letter-its-freedom-is-anarchy-its/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/942/plato-103_anarchy_the-laws-of-democracy-remain-a-dead-lett_1983650.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/942/plato-103_anarchy_the-laws-of-democracy-remain-a-dead-lett_1983650.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/942/plato-103_anarchy_the-laws-of-democracy-remain-a-dead-lett_1983650.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The laws of democracy remain a dead letter, its freedom is anarchy, its equality the equality of unequals” — Plato", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Plato", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The laws of democracy remain a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-laws-of-democracy-remain-a-dead-letter-its-freedom-is-anarchy-its/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-laws-of-democracy-remain-a-dead-letter-its-freedom-is-anarchy-its/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```