Democracy, which is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequaled alike.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Democracy is appealing due to its variety but lacks order and true equality.
- In plain terms
- Democracy looks great because it is varied but messy and unequal.
- What can you take from it?
- Democracy has charm but risks disorder and unfairness.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is order better than freedom?
- How do you fix equality?
Another view
Variety and disorder can also be signs of freedom and creativity.
More from Plato
Bodily exercise, when compulsory, does no harm to the body; but knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.
Permalink to quote #39 Democracy passes into despotism.
Permalink to quote #41 I have hardly ever known a mathematician who was capable of reasoning.
Permalink to quote #38
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