Quotes Library

November 30, 2025

Democracy encourages the majority to decide things about which the majority is blissfully ignorant.

John Simon (1925–2019), American author and critic, The Portable Curmudgeon, Jon Winokur, ed. (New York: 1987), p.84

Is this the essential weakness of democracy? Do you now understand your purpose in life (political life, that is)?

The truth is that the vast majority of the majority of people don’t give a fig about the things you decide, unless and until it impacts them in some negative way, at which point you will be entirely to blame, even if you voted “No” on the matter.


More Quotes

November 21, 2025
Democracy is the name we give to the people each time we need them.
August 1, 2025
The greatest gift of any statesman rests not in knowing what concessions to make, but recognizing when to make them.
July 26, 2025
If politicians lived on praise and thanks they’d be forced into some other line of business.
Page 108 of 122