"The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment"
- Robert M. Hutchins
About this Quote
This quote by Robert M. Hutchins recommends that democracy is not likely to be damaged by a single occasion, but rather by a progressive process of lethargy, indifference, and undernourishment. This suggests that democracy will not be damaged by a single act of violence, however rather by a lack of interest and engagement from the people. It recommends that if people end up being apathetic and indifferent to the democratic process, and do not nurture it with their attention and participation, then democracy will gradually die out. This quote acts as a cautioning to people to remain engaged and active in the democratic process, otherwise run the risk of the slow extinction of democracy.