"And what do Democrats stand for, if they are so ready to defame concerned citizens as the "mob" - a word betraying a Marie Antoinette delusion of superiority to ordinary mortals. I thought my party was populist, attentive to the needs and wishes of those outside the power structure. And as a product of the 1960s, I thought the Democratic party was passionately committed to freedom of thought and speech"
About this Quote
The Marie Antoinette jab is doing more than name-calling. It’s a class allegory: the educated, culturally dominant wing of the party speaks the language of democracy while privately recoiling from democracy’s messiness. By calling “mob” a “delusion of superiority,” Paglia implies the insult isn’t merely inaccurate; it’s psychologically necessary for elites who need moral cover to dismiss inconvenient citizens without admitting they’re abandoning them.
Her “I thought” repetition is the knife. It’s an accusation dressed as nostalgia, a confession that doubles as an indictment: the betrayal is so deep it feels like misrecognition. “Product of the 1960s” is also a credential claim, positioning her as someone formed by an era when free speech was a left-wing virtue, not a liability managed by PR and institutional risk teams.
Contextually, Paglia is channeling a long-running intra-left feud: cultural liberalism sliding into managerial liberalism, and dissent reclassified from “speaking truth to power” into “harm.” The subtext: if you can label citizens a mob, you don’t have to listen to them.
Quote Details
| Topic | Freedom |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Paglia, Camille. (2026, January 16). And what do Democrats stand for, if they are so ready to defame concerned citizens as the "mob" - a word betraying a Marie Antoinette delusion of superiority to ordinary mortals. I thought my party was populist, attentive to the needs and wishes of those outside the power structure. And as a product of the 1960s, I thought the Democratic party was passionately committed to freedom of thought and speech. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/and-what-do-democrats-stand-for-if-they-are-so-139682/
Chicago Style
Paglia, Camille. "And what do Democrats stand for, if they are so ready to defame concerned citizens as the "mob" - a word betraying a Marie Antoinette delusion of superiority to ordinary mortals. I thought my party was populist, attentive to the needs and wishes of those outside the power structure. And as a product of the 1960s, I thought the Democratic party was passionately committed to freedom of thought and speech." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/and-what-do-democrats-stand-for-if-they-are-so-139682/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"And what do Democrats stand for, if they are so ready to defame concerned citizens as the "mob" - a word betraying a Marie Antoinette delusion of superiority to ordinary mortals. I thought my party was populist, attentive to the needs and wishes of those outside the power structure. And as a product of the 1960s, I thought the Democratic party was passionately committed to freedom of thought and speech." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/and-what-do-democrats-stand-for-if-they-are-so-139682/. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
