Democracy Quote by Will Durant
““The defect of democracy is its tendency to put mediocrity into power; and there is no way of avoiding this except by limiting office to men of “trained skill.”138 Numbers by themselves cannot produce wisdom, and may give the best favors of office to the grossest flatterers. “The fickle disposition of the multitude almost reduces those who have experience of it to despair; for it is governed solely by emotions, and not by reason.”139 Thus democratic government becomes a procession of brief-lived demagogues, and men of worth are loath to enter lists where they must be judged and rated by their inferiors.140””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Story of Civilization, Volume 9, 1935
Democracy can devolve into mediocrity because popular choice favors emotion over expertise, limiting skilled leadership.
In simple terms: Democracy risks electing unqualified leaders.
Key Takeaway
Value expertise in governance.
Themes
politics
democracy
leadership
meritocracy
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- elections
- policy making
- organizational hiring
- public debates
Key Concepts
social choice theory
cognitive bias
elite theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance popular will with competence?
- What safeguards protect against demagoguery?
A Different Perspective
Skill alone may not guarantee ethical rule.
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