Ch. VII: Of True and False Democracy; Representation of All, and Representation of the Majority only (p. 248)

In a really equal democracy, every or any section would be represented, not disproportionately, but proportionately. ... Unless they are, there is not equal government, but a government of inequality and privilege: one part of the people rule over the rest: there is a part whose fair and equal share of influence in the representation is withheld from them, contrary to all just government, but, above all, contrary to the principle of democracy, which professes equality as its very root and foundation.

— John Stuart Mill

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "In a really equal democracy, every or any section would be represented, not disproportionately, but proportionately. ... Unless they are, there is not equal government, but a government of inequality and privilege: one part of the people rule over the rest: there is a part whose fair and equal share of influence in the representation is withheld from them, contrary to all just government, but, above all, contrary to the principle of democracy, which professes equality as its very root and foundation." in the context of "Ch. VII: Of True and False Democracy; Representation of All, and Representation of the Majority only (p. 248)" to mean that wisdom is timeless.

Quote Image
Source: Wikiquote: "John Stuart Mill" (Quotes, On Representative Government (1861): Three Essays: On Liberty; Representative Government; The Subjection of Women. Oxford University Press, 1975, ) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
John Stuart Mill

About John Stuart Mill

John Stuart Mill (20 May 1806 – 8 May 1873), also known as J. S. Mill, was an English political philosopher and economist who was an advocate of utilitarianism.