Variant: The best argument against democracy is a five-minute talk with the average voter.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- This suggests skepticism about the quality of democratic decisions based on voter knowledge.
- In plain terms
- Talking to the average voter makes you doubt democracy.
- What can you take from it?
- Democracy depends on informed citizens.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How informed are voters today?
- Is democracy still the best system?
Another view
Voters can still make good decisions collectively.
More from Winston Churchill
The biggest argument against democracy is a five minute discussion with the average voter.
Permalink to quote #161 The essence and foundation of House of Commons debating, is formal conversation, the set speech, the harangues addressed to constituents, or to the wider publi…
Permalink to quote #163 The ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn't happen.
Permalink to quote #160
Related quotes
Decision by majorities is as much an expedient as lighting by gas.
William Ewart GladstoneWilliam Ewart Gladstone quote #2 But the mass of the old electors did not analyse very much: they liked to have one of their 'betters' to represent them; if he was rich they respected him much…
Walter BagehotWalter Bagehot quote #2 It is a truism, of course, that in 'democratic' states the populace must be encouraged to imagine that it makes important decisions by voting, and must therefo…
Revilo P. OliverRevilo P. Oliver quote #6