---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best argument against democracy is a…"
description: "\"“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average”\" — Stephen D. King"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/stephen-d-king-59466_communication_the-best-argument-against-democracy-is-a_649956.jpg"
---

#  The best argument against democracy is a five-minute…

![“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average” quote by Stephen D. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/stephen-d-king-59466_communication_the-best-argument-against-democracy-is-a_649956.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/stephen-d-king-59466_communication_the-best-argument-against-democracy-is-a_649956.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/stephen-d-king-59466_communication_the-best-argument-against-democracy-is-a_649956.jpg)

> ““The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average””

[Stephen D. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-d-king/)

## About This Quote

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

Democracy can be flawed when average citizens lack depth of thought, suggesting a brief conversation reveals its weaknesses.

**In simple terms:** Democracy may be weak with uninformed people.

Key Takeaway

Consider the value of informed discourse.

Themes

politics democracy critique education

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

political analytical

When to use this quote

- political debate
- public policy
- media literacy

Key Concepts

civic engagement critical thinking

Questions to Reflect On

- What makes a citizen "average"?
- How can education improve democratic dialogue?

A Different Perspective

A single conversation may not capture the full picture of democratic health.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/)

## Related quotes

> [“the best argument against a democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-best-argument-against-a-democracy-is-a-five-minute-conversation/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [If you want a good argument against democracy, spend five minutes with a voter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/if-you-want-a-good-argument-against-democracy-spend-five-minutes-with/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [ \[T\]here is only one sound argument for democracy, and that is the argument that it is a crime for any man to hold himself… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/t-here-is-only-one-sound-argument-for-democracy-and-that-is-the/)

[H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/)

> [I can't tell you how many thousands of small moments that I've had with employees in our company that have been nothing more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-munoz/i-can-t-tell-you-how-many-thousands-of-small-moments-that-i-ve-had/)

[Oscar Munoz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-munoz/)

> [I don't need to spend hours in meetings, because I can have a two-minute conversation with a colleague who is pretty damn smart and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-e-peterson/i-don-t-need-to-spend-hours-in-meetings-because-i-can-have-a-two/)

[Sandra E. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-e-peterson/)

> [Behind every communication problem is a sweaty ten-minute conversation that you don't want to have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gay-hendricks/behind-every-communication-problem-is-a-sweaty-ten-minute/)

[Gay Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gay-hendricks/)

> [I could sit right here and have a 15-minute conversation with somebody and change their whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-jeezy/i-could-sit-right-here-and-have-a-15-minute-conversation-with/)

[Young Jeezy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-jeezy/)

> [You have to figure out a way to endure that little bit of time with the media. Any question they ask you; beautiful thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-sapp/you-have-to-figure-out-a-way-to-endure-that-little-bit-of-time-with/)

[Warren Sapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-sapp/)

> [I am often attracted to people with whom I could not hold a five minute conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/i-am-often-attracted-to-people-with-whom-i-could-not-hold-a-five/)

[Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/)

> [I later realized that this is my view of passion: It is rooted in genuine friendship. Chemistry may be two strangers exchanging smoldering looks—but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-simonson/i-later-realized-that-this-is-my-view-of-passion-it-is-rooted-in/)

[Helen Simonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-simonson/)

> [ But the best argument of all \[for evangelism\] is to be found in the wounds of Jesus. You want to honor Him, you desire… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/but-the-best-argument-of-all-for-evangelism-is-to-be-found-in-the/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/the-only-way-to-get-the-best-of-an-argument-is-to-avoid-it/)

[Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/)

> [Never argue at the dinner table, for the one who is not hungry always gets the best of the argument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/never-argue-at-the-dinner-table-for-the-one-who-is-not-hungry-always/)

[Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/)

> [There is only one way to defeat the enemy, and that is to write as well as one can. The best argument is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/there-is-only-one-way-to-defeat-the-enemy-and-that-is-to-write-as/)

[Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/)

> [“To YoYo Ma: "You playing is the best argument I've ever heard for the existence of God, because I don't really believe a human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/to-yoyo-ma-you-playing-is-the-best-argument-i-ve-ever-heard-for-the/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

## More by Stephen D. King

> [“Yet the interests of the international statesman may not always align with the ‘national interest’, particularly if the statesman is now also a member…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-d-king/yet-the-interests-of-the-international-statesman-may-not-always-align/)

[Stephen D. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-d-king/)

> [“In combination, these political and economic forces suggest that globalization, at least of the post-Columbus kind, is simply not inevitable. In this book –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-d-king/in-combination-these-political-and-economic-forces-suggest-that/)

[Stephen D. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-d-king/)

> [“The US is no longer sure whether its priorities lie across the Atlantic, on the other side of the Pacific or, following the election…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-d-king/the-us-is-no-longer-sure-whether-its-priorities-lie-across-the/)

[Stephen D. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-d-king/)

> [“Differing historical perspectives inevitably shape attitudes towards globalization and its sub-plots. The Western view of globalization has always been just that: a view based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-d-king/differing-historical-perspectives-inevitably-shape-attitudes-towards/)

[Stephen D. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-d-king/)

[Explore all 5 Stephen D. King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-d-king/)

## More Communication quotes

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/)

[John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/)

> [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/)

[Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/)

> [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/)

[Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/)

> [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/)

[Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/)

> [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/)

[Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/)

> [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/)

[Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/)

> [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/)

[Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/)

> [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. I've been in a public bathroom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-ve-been-in-a-serious-conversation-with-one-of-my-children-and-a-fan/)

[Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/)

> [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/)

[Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/)

> [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/)

[Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/)

> [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/)

Yoram Wind

> [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/)

[Browse all 21,506 Communication quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Stephen D. King"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-d-king/the-best-argument-against-democracy-is-a-five-minute-conversation/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Communication"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-d-king/the-best-argument-against-democracy-is-a-five-minute-conversation/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/stephen-d-king-59466_communication_the-best-argument-against-democracy-is-a_649956.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/stephen-d-king-59466_communication_the-best-argument-against-democracy-is-a_649956.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd5/stephen-d-king-59466_communication_the-best-argument-against-democracy-is-a_649956.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average” — Stephen D. King",
                "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": "Stephen D. King",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-d-king/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The best argument against democracy is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-d-king/the-best-argument-against-democracy-is-a-five-minute-conversation/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-d-king/the-best-argument-against-democracy-is-a-five-minute-conversation/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
