Democracy is based on the assumption that a million men are wiser than one man. How's that again? I missed something. Autocracy is based on the assumption that one man is wiser than a million men. Let's play that over again, too. Who decides?
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Heinlein questions the logical basis of democracy versus autocracy, pointing out that both rely on assumptions about wisdom. He asks who ultimately gets to decide which system is correct.
- In plain terms
- Democracy assumes the many are wiser, autocracy assumes the one is; who decides who is right?
- What can you take from it?
- Question the assumptions behind any political system.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who decides what is wise?
- How do we validate political assumptions?
Another view
It oversimplifies the mechanisms of democratic decision-making.
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