---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The democratic thought is based on that…"
description: "\"The democratic thought is based on that 'ordinary people' are suitable to rule themselves.\" — Torbjorn Tannsjo"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/torbjorn-tannsjo-12405_democracy_the-democratic-thought-is-based-on-that_966522.jpg"
---

#  The democratic thought is based on that 'ordinary people'…

![“The democratic thought is based on that 'ordinary people' are suitable to rule themselves.” quote by Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/torbjorn-tannsjo-12405_democracy_the-democratic-thought-is-based-on-that_966522.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/torbjorn-tannsjo-12405_democracy_the-democratic-thought-is-based-on-that_966522.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/torbjorn-tannsjo-12405_democracy_the-democratic-thought-is-based-on-that_966522.jpg)

> “The democratic thought is based on that 'ordinary people' are suitable to rule themselves.”

[Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/)

## About This Quote

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

Democracy thrives when ordinary citizens are trusted to govern themselves.

**In simple terms:** People can self‑govern.

Key Takeaway

Empower the populace.

Themes

democracy citizen empowerment self‑rule political theory

Mood

optimistic analytical

Type

theoretical inspirational

When to use this quote

- local elections
- community councils
- public forums

Key Concepts

participatory governance civic responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- How can education support self‑rule?
- What safeguards prevent populist excess?

A Different Perspective

Risk of uninformed decisions exists.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic/) [Democratic Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-thought-1826563/) [Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary/) [Ordinary people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Suitable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-suitable-1826565/) [Suitable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suitable/) [Suitable Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suitable-rule-1826564/)

## Related quotes

> [“This is the beginning of social criticism and one of the beginnings of democratic thought. Most ancient literature on democracy comes from Athens. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-is-the-beginning-of-social-criticism-and-one-of-the-beginnings/)

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

> [“Not everyone would see a passive public as necessarily a bad thing. There are benefits to limiting political engagement to a minority of highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherian-george/not-everyone-would-see-a-passive-public-as-necessarily-a-bad-thing/)

[Cherian George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherian-george/)

> [Wal-Mart has become the whipping boy for political demagogues, unions and anti-traders. I suggest that they have the wrong target… Wal-Mart exists and prospers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/wal-mart-has-become-the-whipping-boy-for-political-demagogues-unions/)

[Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/)

> [Wherever there is a suitable environment for the fulfilment of Life, it will fulfil itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/wherever-there-is-a-suitable-environment-for-the-fulfilment-of-life/)

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

> [Unerring wisdom ordained your lot, and selected for you the safest and best condition. Remember this, had any other condition been better for you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/unerring-wisdom-ordained-your-lot-and-selected-for-you-the-safest-and/)

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

> [I believe that we can still have a genre of scientific books suitable for and accessible alike to professionals and interested laypeople. The concepts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/i-believe-that-we-can-still-have-a-genre-of-scientific-books-suitable/)

[Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/)

> [His Majesty knows best what is suitable for us. There's no need for us to be advising Him about what He should give us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/his-majesty-knows-best-what-is-suitable-for-us-there-s-no-need-for-us/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [I see one single suitable role for my life's work: for it to be a gift to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wojciech-kurtyka/i-see-one-single-suitable-role-for-my-life-s-work-for-it-to-be-a-gift/)

[Wojciech Kurtyka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wojciech-kurtyka/)

> [Any subject is suitable provided it is of sufficient interest, but the design must be very carefully considered, and plenty of time and thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/any-subject-is-suitable-provided-it-is-of-sufficient-interest-but-the/)

[Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/)

> [With a basic understanding of all humans as brothers and sisters, we can appreciate the usefulness of different systems and ideologies that can accommodate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/with-a-basic-understanding-of-all-humans-as-brothers-and-sisters-we/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [Readers take in dialogue one thought at a time. A frequent mistake of beginners is to combine thoughts, which may be suitable for other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-stein/readers-take-in-dialogue-one-thought-at-a-time-a-frequent-mistake-of/)

[Sol Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-stein/)

> [I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-resolutely-believe-that-respect-for-diversity-is-a-fundamental/)

[Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/)

> [I was a lousy nun. I couldn't do it. I couldn't find God. It wasn't suitable for me. It is suitable for very few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/i-was-a-lousy-nun-i-couldn-t-do-it-i-couldn-t-find-god-it-wasn-t/)

[Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

> [ I've often thought about that and the only suitable member to join me on that climb \[to Everest\] was George Lowe: he was strong,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/i-ve-often-thought-about-that-and-the-only-suitable-member-to-join-me/)

[Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/)

> [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/)

[Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/)

## More by Torbjorn Tannsjo

> [Being a moral realist I see normative ethics as a search of the truth about our obligations and a search of explanation; the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/being-a-moral-realist-i-see-normative-ethics-as-a-search-of-the-truth/)

[Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/)

> [I do believe that what I have called populist democracy is to be preferred to what I have called elitist democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/i-do-believe-that-what-i-have-called-populist-democracy-is-to-be/)

[Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/)

> [It is true that it feels very differently to enjoy a good meal, taking part in an interesting conversation, or to think of how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/it-is-true-that-it-feels-very-differently-to-enjoy-a-good-meal-taking/)

[Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/)

> [It is obvious that humanity faces existential threats of a global nature. They are global in the sense that is not possible to deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/it-is-obvious-that-humanity-faces-existential-threats-of-a-global/)

[Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/)

> [To kill or not to kill, that was the question that haunted me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/to-kill-or-not-to-kill-that-was-the-question-that-haunted-me/)

[Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/)

> [Are there any good arguments in defence of moral nihilism? I think not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/are-there-any-good-arguments-in-defence-of-moral-nihilism-i-think-not/)

[Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/)

> [According to deontology it is wrong to kill an innocent human being, period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/according-to-deontology-it-is-wrong-to-kill-an-innocent-human-being/)

[Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/)

> [How could it be that I had a legal obligation to kill people I did not know, and who did certainly not consent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/how-could-it-be-that-i-had-a-legal-obligation-to-kill-people-i-did/)

[Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/)

> [I want to think that there are better ways of obviating murder than to resort to capital punishment, but I realise that this may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/i-want-to-think-that-there-are-better-ways-of-obviating-murder-than/)

[Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/)

> [Even where people in different cultures agree they may all have gone wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/even-where-people-in-different-cultures-agree-they-may-all-have-gone/)

[Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/)

> [The Chinese are generally speaking much more reluctant than Westerners to killing as a means to the rescue of lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/the-chinese-are-generally-speaking-much-more-reluctant-than/)

[Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/)

> [I am indeed a hedonistic utilitarian. I have defended hedonistic utilitarianism for quite a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/i-am-indeed-a-hedonistic-utilitarian-i-have-defended-hedonistic/)

[Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/)

> [What we need is legislation, not negotiation, for the entire globe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/what-we-need-is-legislation-not-negotiation-for-the-entire-globe/)

[Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/)

> [There comes a time where next to everyone will resort to techniques that enhance cognitive, mental including emotive, physical, and other capacities. When this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/there-comes-a-time-where-next-to-everyone-will-resort-to-techniques/)

[Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/)

> [I believe that one basic question, what we ought to do, period (the moral question), is a genuine one. There exists a true answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/i-believe-that-one-basic-question-what-we-ought-to-do-period-the/)

[Torbjorn Tannsjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/)

[Explore all 55 Torbjorn Tannsjo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/)

## 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": "The democratic thought is based on that 'ordinary people' are suitable to rule themselves.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Torbjorn Tannsjo"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/the-democratic-thought-is-based-on-that-ordinary-people-are-suitable/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Democracy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/the-democratic-thought-is-based-on-that-ordinary-people-are-suitable/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/torbjorn-tannsjo-12405_democracy_the-democratic-thought-is-based-on-that_966522.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/torbjorn-tannsjo-12405_democracy_the-democratic-thought-is-based-on-that_966522.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c0/torbjorn-tannsjo-12405_democracy_the-democratic-thought-is-based-on-that_966522.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The democratic thought is based on that 'ordinary people' are suitable to rule themselves.” — Torbjorn Tannsjo",
                "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": "Torbjorn Tannsjo",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torbjorn-tannsjo/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The democratic thought is based on...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/the-democratic-thought-is-based-on-that-ordinary-people-are-suitable/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torbjorn-tannsjo/the-democratic-thought-is-based-on-that-ordinary-people-are-suitable/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
