---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy rests on the principle of…"
description: "\"“Democracy rests on the principle of majority rule, yet it’s eternally coupled with the tolerance of dissenting views. However, ongoing competitive par..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/ramkrishna-guru-120144_democracy_democracy-rests-on-the-principle-of-majo_914918.jpg"
---

#  Democracy rests on the principle of majority rule, yet…

![“Democracy rests on the principle of majority rule, yet it’s eternally coupled with the tolerance of dissenting views. However, ongoing competitive party politics has demeaned the role of opposition. Though it’s explicitly visible that the present Government has yet to accomplish many feats. Still…” quote by Ramkrishna Guru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/ramkrishna-guru-120144_democracy_democracy-rests-on-the-principle-of-majo_914918.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/ramkrishna-guru-120144_democracy_democracy-rests-on-the-principle-of-majo_914918.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/ramkrishna-guru-120144_democracy_democracy-rests-on-the-principle-of-majo_914918.jpg)

> ““Democracy rests on the principle of majority rule, yet it’s eternally coupled with the tolerance of dissenting views. However, ongoing competitive party politics has demeaned the role of opposition. Though it’s explicitly visible that the present Government has yet to accomplish many feats. Still, you can’t deny the fact that they have outwitted in holding the nerve of the people in terms of their narratives. That’s what you need when the opposition becomes dysfunctional.””

Ramkrishna Guru

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Democracy relies on majority rule but must tolerate dissent; opposition often weakens, yet narratives can still sway people.

**In simple terms:** Democracy needs majority rule and dissent; opposition can falter but narratives persist.

Key Takeaway

Balance majority decisions with respect for dissent.

Themes

democracy majority dissent politics opposition

Mood

critical analytical

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

- election strategy
- public debate
- policy formation
- civic education

Key Concepts

political theory social dynamics narrative power governance

Questions to Reflect On

- How can healthy opposition be maintained?
- What role do narratives play in shaping public opinion?

A Different Perspective

Opposition may become irrelevant if narratives dominate.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democratic process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-process/) [Majority rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majority-rule/) [Opposition-quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposition-quotes/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/)

## Related quotes

> [The principle of majority rule is the mildest form in which the force of numbers can be exercised. It is a pacific substitute for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-principle-of-majority-rule-is-the-mildest-form-in-which-the-force/)

[Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/)

> [ The young \[Nazi\] movement is in its nature and inner organization anti-parliamentarian; that is, it rejects... a principle of majority rule in which the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-young-nazi-movement-is-in-its-nature-and-inner-organization-anti/)

[Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/)

> [ \[Proportional representation is a\] device for defeating democracy, the principle of which was that the majority should rule, and for bringing faddists of all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lloyd-george/proportional-representation-is-a-device-for-defeating-democracy-the/)

[David Lloyd George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lloyd-george/)

> [By rejecting the authority of the individual and replacing it by the numbers of some momentary mob, the parliamentary principle of majority rule sins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/by-rejecting-the-authority-of-the-individual-and-replacing-it-by-the/)

[Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/)

> [The role of the opposition leader differs from that of the chancellor. If this government is to be successful, I have to take the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/the-role-of-the-opposition-leader-differs-from-that-of-the-chancellor/)

[Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/)

> [A better principle than this, that "the majority shall rule," is this other, that justice shall rule. "Justice," says the code of Justinian, "is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/a-better-principle-than-this-that-the-majority-shall-rule-is-this/)

[Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/)

> [All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/all-too-will-bear-in-mind-this-sacred-principle-that-though-the-will/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [The principle of majority does not work when differences on fundamentals are involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-principle-of-majority-does-not-work-when-differences-on/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [If our fathers, in 1776, had acknowledged the principle that a majority had the right to rule the minority, we should never have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/if-our-fathers-in-1776-had-acknowledged-the-principle-that-a-majority/)

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

> [The principle that the majority have a right to rule the minority, practically resolves all government into a mere contest between two bodies of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysander-spooner/the-principle-that-the-majority-have-a-right-to-rule-the-minority/)

[Lysander Spooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysander-spooner/)

> [It is my principle that the will of the majority should always prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-my-principle-that-the-will-of-the-majority-should-always-prevail/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [I think we've set the bar with respect to the notion that it is possible to provide health care for people. Now I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-we-ve-set-the-bar-with-respect-to-the-notion-that-it-is/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [“The greater the fruit a trees bears, the greater the number of stones thrown at it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/the-greater-the-fruit-a-trees-bears-the-greater-the-number-of-stones/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“I will never see you as my opposition; you're easily broken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/i-will-never-see-you-as-my-opposition-you-re-easily-broken/)

[P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/)

> [“If you know where you are from, it is harder for people to stop you where you are going.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-you-know-where-you-are-from-it-is-harder-for-people-to-stop-you/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

## More Democracy quotes

> [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/)

[Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/)

> [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/)

[Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/)

> [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/)

[Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [ 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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [The Republicans do not look on the Democrats as the evil empire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-republicans-do-not-look-on-the-democrats-as-the-evil-empire/)

[William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/)

> [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/)

[Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/)

> [In a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility, and obliged to defend and justify itself within the framework of the general good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/in-a-democratic-nation-power-must-be-linked-with-responsibility-and/)

[Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/)

> [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/)

[Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/)

> [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

[Browse all 11,220 Democracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Democracy rests on the principle of majority rule, yet it’s eternally coupled with the tolerance of dissenting views. However, ongoing competitive party politics has demeaned the role of opposition. Though it’s explicitly visible that the present Government has yet to accomplish many feats. Still, you can’t deny the fact that they have outwitted in holding the nerve of the people in terms of their narratives. That’s what you need when the opposition becomes dysfunctional.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ramkrishna Guru"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramkrishna-guru/democracy-rests-on-the-principle-of-majority-rule-yet-it-s-eternally/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Democracy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramkrishna-guru/democracy-rests-on-the-principle-of-majority-rule-yet-it-s-eternally/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/ramkrishna-guru-120144_democracy_democracy-rests-on-the-principle-of-majo_914918.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/ramkrishna-guru-120144_democracy_democracy-rests-on-the-principle-of-majo_914918.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/ramkrishna-guru-120144_democracy_democracy-rests-on-the-principle-of-majo_914918.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Democracy rests on the principle of majority rule, yet it’s eternally coupled with the tolerance of…” — Ramkrishna Guru",
                "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": "Ramkrishna Guru",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramkrishna-guru/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Democracy rests on the principle of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramkrishna-guru/democracy-rests-on-the-principle-of-majority-rule-yet-it-s-eternally/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramkrishna-guru/democracy-rests-on-the-principle-of-majority-rule-yet-it-s-eternally/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
