Democracy and Leadership is a book by Irving Babbitt, first published by Houghton Mifflin in 1924.

According to Babbitt, no amount of sentimental “love” or sociopolitical activism can substitute for a lack of real moral character.

In the book, Babbitt provides a convincing critique of "unchecked majoritarianism," while dealing with the issue of how to find leaders who have high standards.

[2] Babbitt considered moral character so important that it could not be superseded by socio-political activism or sentimentality.

He explains: "With the present trend toward 'social justice,' the time is rapidly approaching when everybody will be minding everybody else’s business.