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A democrat need not believe that the majority will always reach a wise decision. He should however believe in the necessity of accepting the decision of the majority, be it wise or unwise, until such a time that the majority reaches another decision.
Bertrand Russell
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Democracy requires acceptance of majority decisions, regardless of their wisdom.

Bertrand Russell emphasizes the importance of accepting the decisions made by the majority in a democratic society, even if those decisions are not always wise. He advocates for the belief that democratic processes are essential, and one must respect the outcomes until new decisions are made, underscoring the dynamic nature of public opinion and decision-making in governance.

Themes

DemocracyMajorityDecisionWisdomAcceptance

In practice

Example use cases

In a debate about voting outcomes, to highlight the importance of respecting majority decisions.

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Moreover, the attitude that one ought to believe such and such a proposition, independently of the question whether there is evidence in its favor, is an attitude which produces hostility to evidence and causes us to close our minds to every fact that does not suit our prejudices.
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A little wisdom, now and then

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