In the same interview, Hayek is reported to have said: “Democracy has a task which I call ‘hygienic,’ for it assures that political processes are conducted in a sanitary fashion. It is not an end in itself. It is a rule of procedure whose aim is to promote freedom. But in no way can it be seen in the same rank as freedom. Freedom requires democracy, but I would prefer temporarily to sacrifice, I repeat temporarily, democracy, before having to do without freedom, even if temporarily.”

Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, loc. 2152