Passage

A good statesman, like any other sensible human being, learns more from his opponents than from his fervent supporters. For his supporters will push him to disaster unless his opponents show him where the dangers are. So, if he is wise, he will often pray to be delivered from his friends, because they will ruin him. But though it hurts, he ought also to pray never to be left without opponents; for they keep him on the path of reason and good sense. The national unity of free people depends upon a sufficiently even balance of political power to make it impracticable for the administration to be arbitrary and for opposition to be revolutionary and irreconcilable.

Question

CSATMediumPrelims 2025Comprehension

With reference to the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

I. In a democracy, a strong opposition is required only if the Head of Government is indifferent. II. The more aggressive the opposition, the better is the governance in a democracy.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Explanation

Assumption I is incorrect: The passage says that opposition is necessary in general to maintain balance and prevent arbitrary rule, not only when the Head of Government is indifferent.

Assumption II is incorrect: The passage warns against opposition becoming revolutionary or irreconcilable; it advocates balanced opposition, not aggressive opposition.