--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The principle of majority rule is the…" description: "\"The principle of majority rule is the mildest form in which the force of numbers can be exercised. It is a pacific substitute for civil war in which th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/097/walter-lippmann-1083_army_the-principle-of-majority-rule-is-the-mi_2930597.jpg" --- # The principle of majority rule is the mildest form in… ![“The principle of majority rule is the mildest form in which the force of numbers can be exercised. It is a pacific substitute for civil war in which the opposing armies are counted and the victory is awarded to the larger before any blood is shed. Except in the sacred tests of democracy and in the…” quote by Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/097/walter-lippmann-1083_army_the-principle-of-majority-rule-is-the-mi_2930597.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/097/walter-lippmann-1083_army_the-principle-of-majority-rule-is-the-mi_2930597.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/097/walter-lippmann-1083_army_the-principle-of-majority-rule-is-the-mi_2930597.jpg) > “The principle of majority rule is the mildest form in which the force of numbers can be exercised. It is a pacific substitute for civil war in which the opposing armies are counted and the victory is awarded to the larger before any blood is shed. Except in the sacred tests of democracy and in the incantations of the orators, we hardly take the trouble to pretend that the rule of the majority is not at bottom a rule of force.” [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Majority rule is a peaceful way to let numbers decide, but it still relies on the power of the larger group over the smaller. **In simple terms:** Majority rule is a non‑violent way to let the larger group win. Key Takeaway Recognize the power dynamics behind democratic decisions. Themes politics democracy power conflict ethics Mood thoughtful critical analytical Type philosophical political reflective When to use this quote - elections - legislative voting - board decisions - community polls Key Concepts social contract majoritarianism legitimacy Questions to Reflect On - How can minority rights be protected in a majority system? - When does majority rule become oppression? A Different Perspective It can marginalize minorities and suppress dissenting voices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Civil war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-war/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Majority rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majority-rule/) [Orators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orators/) [Pacific](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pacific/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [It is unnatural for a majority to rule, for a majority can seldom be organized and united for specific action, and a minority can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/it-is-unnatural-for-a-majority-to-rule-for-a-majority-can-seldom-be/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [A fatal defect in majority rule is that by its very nature it abolishes itself. Majority rule must inevitably become minority rule: the majority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/a-fatal-defect-in-majority-rule-is-that-by-its-very-nature-it/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [ \[Proportional representation is a\] 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 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/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramkrishna-guru/democracy-rests-on-the-principle-of-majority-rule-yet-it-s-eternally/) Ramkrishna Guru > [War is the rule of force, and peace is the reign of law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/war-is-the-rule-of-force-and-peace-is-the-reign-of-law/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [Do not mistake the rule of force for true power. Men are not shaped by force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/do-not-mistake-the-rule-of-force-for-true-power-men-are-not-shaped-by/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [The justification of majority rule in politics is not to be found in its ethical superiority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-justification-of-majority-rule-in-politics-is-not-to-be-found-in/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Its minority rule and majority limited rights. In fact it's set up that way. If you read the framers of the constitution, including James…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/its-minority-rule-and-majority-limited-rights-in-fact-it-s-set-up/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [In the South, prior to the Civil Rights movement and the 1964 Civil Rights Act, democracy was the rule. The majority of people were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/in-the-south-prior-to-the-civil-rights-movement-and-the-1964-civil/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [“it is undeniable, that the rule of a majority may be almost as hostile to freedom as the rule of a minority: the divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-undeniable-that-the-rule-of-a-majority-may-be-almost-as-hostile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When great changes occur in history, when great principles are involved, as a rule the majority are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/when-great-changes-occur-in-history-when-great-principles-are/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [A living faith cannot be manufactured by the rule of majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/a-living-faith-cannot-be-manufactured-by-the-rule-of-majority/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [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/) ## More by Walter Lippmann > [The emancipated woman has to fight something worse than the crusted prejudices of her uncles; she has to fight the bewilderment in her own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-emancipated-woman-has-to-fight-something-worse-than-the-crusted/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Even God has been defended with nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/even-god-has-been-defended-with-nonsense/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [A better distribution of incomes would increase that efficiency by diverting a great fund of wealth from the useless to the useful members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-better-distribution-of-incomes-would-increase-that-efficiency-by/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [There is but one bond of peace that is both permanent and enriching: The increasing knowledge of the world in which experiment occurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/there-is-but-one-bond-of-peace-that-is-both-permanent-and-enriching/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. That is why there has so often been amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action-there-is-rarely-any/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-final-test-of-a-leader-is-that-he-leaves-behind-him-in-other-men/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The simple opposition between the people and big business has disappeared because the people themselves have become so deeply involved in big business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-simple-opposition-between-the-people-and-big-business-has/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [A free press is not a privilege but an organic necessity in a great society. ... A great society is simply a big and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-free-press-is-not-a-privilege-but-an-organic-necessity-in-a-great/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [“Since position and contact play so big a part in determining what can be seen, heard, read, and experienced, as well as what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/since-position-and-contact-play-so-big-a-part-in-determining-what-can/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [An alliance is like a chain. It is not made stronger by adding weak links to it. A great power like the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/an-alliance-is-like-a-chain-it-is-not-made-stronger-by-adding-weak/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The chief element in the art of statesmanship under modern conditions is the ability to elucidate the confused and clamorous interests which converge upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-chief-element-in-the-art-of-statesmanship-under-modern-conditions/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [At the core of every moral code there is a picture of human nature, a map of the universe, and a version of history.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/at-the-core-of-every-moral-code-there-is-a-picture-of-human-nature-a/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The tendency of the casual mind is to pick out or stumble upon a sample which supports or defies its prejudices, and then to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-tendency-of-the-casual-mind-is-to-pick-out-or-stumble-upon-a/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [There is only one purpose to which a whole society can be directed by a deliberate plan. That purpose is war, and there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/there-is-only-one-purpose-to-which-a-whole-society-can-be-directed-by/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [In a democracy, the opposition is not only tolerated as constitutional, but must be maintained because it is indispensable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/in-a-democracy-the-opposition-is-not-only-tolerated-as-constitutional/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) [Explore all 296 Walter Lippmann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... 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But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. 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Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) [Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The principle of majority rule is the mildest form in which the force of numbers can be exercised. It is a pacific substitute for civil war in which the opposing armies are counted and the victory is awarded to the larger before any blood is shed. 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