--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The greatest characters the world has…" description: "\"The greatest characters the world has known, have rose on the democratic floor. Aristocracy has not been able to keep a proportionate pace with democra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/thomas-paine-267_able_the-greatest-characters-the-world-has-kn_873853.png" --- # The greatest characters the world has known, have rose on… ![“The greatest characters the world has known, have rose on the democratic floor. Aristocracy has not been able to keep a proportionate pace with democracy.” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/thomas-paine-267_able_the-greatest-characters-the-world-has-kn_873853.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/thomas-paine-267_able_the-greatest-characters-the-world-has-kn_873853.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59a/thomas-paine-267_able_the-greatest-characters-the-world-has-kn_873853.png) > “The greatest characters the world has known, have rose on the democratic floor. Aristocracy has not been able to keep a proportionate pace with democracy.” [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy empowers individuals, while aristocracy struggles to keep pace. **In simple terms:** Democracy rises, aristocracy lags. Key Takeaway Support democratic participation. Themes democracy political change social mobility Mood inspirational thoughtful Type political historical When to use this quote - voting - civic education - policy reform - social activism Key Concepts power dynamics historical progress Questions to Reflect On - What modern institutions balance democracy and expertise? - How can aristocratic traditions adapt? A Different Perspective Overlooks complexities of governance and potential benefits of hybrid systems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Aristocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy/) [Aristocracy Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocracy-able-980313/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic/) [Democratic Floor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-floor-980315/) [Floor Aristocracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/floor-aristocracy-980314/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pace/) [Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rose/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The artificial noble shrinks into a dwarf before the noble of nature; and in the few instances (for there are some in all countries)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-artificial-noble-shrinks-into-a-dwarf-before-the-noble-of-nature/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Aristocracy has a tendency to degenerate the human species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/aristocracy-has-a-tendency-to-degenerate-the-human-species/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The aristocracy are not the farmers who work the land, and raise the produce, but are the mere consumers of the rent; and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-aristocracy-are-not-the-farmers-who-work-the-land-and-raise-the/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Aristocracy is kept up by family tyranny and injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/aristocracy-is-kept-up-by-family-tyranny-and-injustice/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“I believe in aristocracy, though—if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. 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