"The one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the majority, or rather of that party, not always the majority, that succeeds, by force or fraud, in carrying elections"
- Lord Acton
About this Quote
This quote by Lord Acton speaks with the potential threat of democracy. He suggests that the greatest evil of democracy is the tyranny of the majority, or more accurately, the tyranny of the party that succeeds in winning elections. This could be done through force or fraud, indicating that the party in power may not necessarily be the bulk. This is a warning that democracy can be abused and manipulated, and that the majority needs to not be allowed to impose their will on the minority. This is a pointer that democracy need to be used to secure the rights of all residents, not simply those in the majority. It is very important to make sure that all voices are heard and respected, which the rights of the minority are not stomped upon.