邱吉爾論民主嘗云：「The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.」單與個體選民對話，只見得觀點之狹、知識之譾、成見之偏，難免令人對民主失望。然民主之弔詭在於：但凡制度健全，無數偏狹個體之非理性一經聚合，便成為總體之理性。毋怪邱氏復有此言為民主贊：「It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.」


邱氏此說，實亦可見於吾國典籍。《管子‧君臣上》即云：「夫民、別而聽之則愚，合而聽之則聖」。