Vol. 06 · Misquoted ·Speech ·60 of 348
"Democracy is the worst form of government — except for all the others."
They never said that.
What people say
"Democracy is the worst form of government — except for all the others."
What was actually said
"Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time." Winston Churchill — House of Commons speech, 11 November 1947
Why it stuck
Churchill was quoting — "it has been said" — not coining. The attribution has stuck anyway. The short form drops the double distancing and makes Churchill the author.
Which "it" Churchill was referring to is unknown; the underlying sentiment had been circulating in English journalism for decades.
Know another line by heart?
Play the duel and see how many you can spot. Or browse the whole shelf.