"If Despotism failed only for want of..." - Quote by George Bernard Shaw
If Despotism failed only for want of a capable benevolent despot, what chance has Democracy, which requires a whole population of capable voters.
More by George Bernard Shaw
More on Democracy
“Democracy is morose, and runs to anarchy, but in the state, and in the schools, it is indispensable to resist the consolidation ofall men into a few men.”
“Democracy is only a dream: it should be put in the same category as Arcadia, Santa Claus, and Heaven.”
“We are fighting to save a great and precious form of government for ourselves and for the world.”
More on Despotism
“Socialism is the phantastic younger brother of despotism, which it wants to inherit. Socialism wants to have the fullness of state force which before only existed in despotism. ... However, it goes further than anything in the past because it aims at the formal destruction of the individual ... who ... can be used to improve communities by an expedient organ of government.”
“The strength and power of despotism consists wholly in the fear of resistance.”
“Democracy passes into despotism.”