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

July 2, 2025
Fame is a vapor; popularity is an accident; the only earthly certainty is oblivion.
February 5, 2025
Think much, speak little, write less.
July 8, 2025
…see how sensitive the citizens become: they chafe impatiently at the least touch of authority and at length
Page 63 of 123