7 Quotes About Demagoguery

From the ancient Greeks to the authors of the Federalist Papers, demagoguery has been a term used to describe the use of grand speech to deceive an audience. This collection of quotes explores the darker side of public rhetoric, particularly in times of crisis, fear, and uncertainty. We’ve included quotes about demagoguery from philosophers, politicians, and authors ranging from Plato to Edmund Burke. We hope these quotes inspire you to ask questions about how you can better identify and counter demagogues in yourself or others.

1
It is not an overstatement to say that the destiny of the entire human race depends on what is going on in America today. This is a staggering reality to the rest of the world; they must feel like passengers in a supersonic jetliner who are forced to watch helplessly while a passel of drunks, hypes, freaks, and madmen fight for the controls and the pilot's seat. — Eldridge Cleaver, Soul on Ice, 1968 . Mark Kurlansky
2
You [demagogues] are like the fishers for eels; in still waters they catch nothing, but if they thoroughly stir up the slime, their fishing is good; in the same way it's only in troublous times that you line your pockets. Aristophanes
3
In proportion that property is small, the danger of misusing the franchisee is great. Barbara W. Tuchman
4
It's an election year. We would prefer that voters didn't use common sense. Aaron Sorkin
5
Hate obscures all distinctions. C.s. Lewis
6
It is one thing to rouse the passion of a people, and quite another to lead them. Ron Suskind