--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Democracy, or \"majority rules,\" is…" description: "\"Democracy, or \"majority rules,\" is another trick of our society to force us to do things we don't want to do. Even if we actually lived in a pure democ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/william-j-murray-61861_democracy_democracy-or-majority-rules-is-another-t_2966212.jpg" --- # Democracy, or "majority rules," is another trick of our… ![“Democracy, or "majority rules," is another trick of our society to force us to do things we don't want to do. Even if we actually lived in a pure democracy (and the system we do live in is not even close), where everyone got a single vote on every subject, forcing the minority to obey the majority…” quote by William J. Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/william-j-murray-61861_democracy_democracy-or-majority-rules-is-another-t_2966212.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/william-j-murray-61861_democracy_democracy-or-majority-rules-is-another-t_2966212.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/530/william-j-murray-61861_democracy_democracy-or-majority-rules-is-another-t_2966212.jpg) > “Democracy, or "majority rules," is another trick of our society to force us to do things we don't want to do. Even if we actually lived in a pure democracy (and the system we do live in is not even close), where everyone got a single vote on every subject, forcing the minority to obey the majority is no different to one man, if he had the power, forcing everyone else to do what he wanted them to-simply because he could.” [William J. Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-murray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democracy can become tyranny when majority forces minority compliance. **In simple terms:** Majority rule may be oppressive. Key Takeaway Question blind majority decisions. Themes politics power ethics Mood critical concerned Type political philosophical When to use this quote - voting - legislation - organizational governance Key Concepts democratic theory social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can minorities protect themselves? - What safeguards exist against majority tyranny? A Different Perspective Minorities can still hold influence through other means. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democracy Majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy-majority-1380671/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majority/) [Majority rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majority-rule/) [Majority Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majority-rules-1917134/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Minorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minorities/) [Obey Majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obey-majority-4543971/) [One man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-man/) [Our society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-society/) [Pure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pure/) [Pure Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pure-democracy-536654/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Tricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tricks/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) ## Related quotes > [Good, law-abiding, value-oriented citizens are the ultimate in hypocrisy; "majority rules" and the law are exactly the same as being the biggest bully on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-murray/good-law-abiding-value-oriented-citizens-are-the-ultimate-in/) [William J. Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-murray/) > [It's characteristic of democracy that majority rule is understood as being effective not only in politics but also in thinking. In thinking, of course,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/it-s-characteristic-of-democracy-that-majority-rule-is-understood-as/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [I call government that works the best for people open society, which is basically just another more general term for a democracy that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/i-call-government-that-works-the-best-for-people-open-society-which/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [I'm enough of an independent loner, that staying in a group's good graces is not always my first priority. 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Murray > [Atheist leader Madalyn Murray O'Hair was murdered. Jon Murray and Robin Murray-O'Hair were also murdered by individuals involved with the atheist organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-murray/atheist-leader-madalyn-murray-o-hair-was-murdered-jon-murray-and/) [William J. Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-murray/) > [Good, law-abiding, value-oriented citizens are the ultimate in hypocrisy; "majority rules" and the law are exactly the same as being the biggest bully on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-murray/good-law-abiding-value-oriented-citizens-are-the-ultimate-in/) [William J. Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-murray/) > [If you do not assume the law of non-contradiction, you have nothing to argue about. If you do not assume the principles of sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-murray/if-you-do-not-assume-the-law-of-non-contradiction-you-have-nothing-to/) [William J. 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