--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: These various remedies, eugenic…" description: "\"“These various remedies, eugenic, educational, ethical, populist and socialist, all assume that either the voters are inherently competent to direct th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/walter-lippmann-1083_democracy_these-various-remedies-eugenic-education_1303423.jpg" --- # These various remedies, eugenic, educational, ethical… ![“These various remedies, eugenic, educational, ethical, populist and socialist, all assume that either the voters are inherently competent to direct the course of affairs or that they are making progress towards such an ideal. I think [democracy] is a false ideal.” quote by Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/walter-lippmann-1083_democracy_these-various-remedies-eugenic-education_1303423.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/walter-lippmann-1083_democracy_these-various-remedies-eugenic-education_1303423.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/908/walter-lippmann-1083_democracy_these-various-remedies-eugenic-education_1303423.jpg) > ““These various remedies, eugenic, educational, ethical, populist and socialist, all assume that either the voters are inherently competent to direct the course of affairs or that they are making progress towards such an ideal. I think \[democracy\] is a false ideal.”” [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. Democracy is portrayed as an ideal assuming voter competence, but the author sees it as unrealistic. **In simple terms:** Democracy may be an unrealistic ideal. Key Takeaway Question the assumptions behind democratic ideals. Themes politics democracy philosophy skepticism Mood critical skeptical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - policy making - citizen engagement - educational reform - political activism Key Concepts social contract voter competence ideological critique Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports or refutes the competence of voters? - How can societies improve decision‑making without idealizing democracy? 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BUT when THEY think of democracy, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-taubes/when-we-think-of-communism-read-a-sign-at-the-conference-we-think-of/) [Gary Taubes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-taubes/) ## 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. 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