more from Baron de Montesquieu

Single Idea 19967

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / c. Direct democracy]

Full Idea

In a democracy, the people, which holds the sovereign power, ought itself to do everything it can do well; that which it cannot do well must be done by its ministers.

Gist of Idea

In a democracy the people should manage themselves, and only delegate what they can't do

Source

Baron de Montesquieu (The Spirit of the Laws (rev. 1757) [1748], 02.02)

Book Reference

Montesquieu,Baron de: 'Selected Political Writings', ed/tr. Richter,Melvin [Hackett 1990], p.116


A Reaction

This is just what you see when a group of residents manages their own building. Citizens in representative democracies become utterly lazy about running their society, so that they won't even pick up litter, or report communal problems.