Plato Quote - Liberty Quotes Blog

"Democracy...is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequals alike."

by:	Plato (429-347 BC) Greek philosopher
Source:	The Republic, ca. 390 B.C.
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Categories:	Democracy, Equality, Government, Inequality
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Reader comments about this quote:

Socrates taught Plato well of democracy. spoken with the charm of intelligence. A tasteless variety of disorder, dispensing a sort of equality, known as misery, to equals and unequals alike. -- Ronw13, OR
Yes "dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequals alike" sounds so "charming." The actual processing of 'dispensing a sort of equality' leaves a lot of room for personal interpretation, the dispensing of which is just a matter of one's taste for plundering the opposition. -- E Archer, NYC
Democracy ... is a charming form of government, hmmm — I guess for some. To be charming, one would have to think despotism, tyranny and mob rule are charming. Democracy ... full of variety and disorder, hmmm — I guess not knowing what the oligarchs of Democracy are going to do next to create pain, poverty, death and mayhem comes under a topic of chaotic wonderment. The equality of helots, serfs and slaves under the demand of force is so democracy. -- Mike, Norwalk 2
Democracy has a built-in feature of equality complete with diversity and order. Someday it will be practiced in the United States of America. Socialism is the challenge of social abilities to create. -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown