. . . for thou art a stiff-necked people. . .

. . . for thou art a stiff-necked people. . .

I wish the crowd to feel itself well treated,
Especially since it lives and lets me live.
read more

I wish the crowd to feel itself well treated,
Especially since it lives and lets me live.
[Ger., Ich wunschte sehr, der Menge zu behagen,
Besonders weil sie lebt und leben lasst.]

The multitude is always in the wrong.

The multitude is always in the wrong.

The individual is foolish; the multitude, for the moment is
foolish, when they act without deliberation; but the species read more

The individual is foolish; the multitude, for the moment is
foolish, when they act without deliberation; but the species is
wise, and, when time is given to it, as a species it always acts
right.

The public! why, the public's nothing better than a great baby.

The public! why, the public's nothing better than a great baby.

The rabble estimate few things according to their real value,
most things according to their prejudices.
[Lat., Vulgus read more

The rabble estimate few things according to their real value,
most things according to their prejudices.
[Lat., Vulgus ex veritate pauca, ex opinione multa aestimat.]

The man in the street does not know a star in the sky.

The man in the street does not know a star in the sky.

It is a good part of sagacity to have known the foolish desires
of the crowd and their unreasonable read more

It is a good part of sagacity to have known the foolish desires
of the crowd and their unreasonable notions.
[Lat., Bona prudentiae pars est nosse stultas vulgi cupiditates,
et absurdas opiniones.]

We would not listen to those who were wont to say the voice of
the people is the voice read more

We would not listen to those who were wont to say the voice of
the people is the voice of God, for the voice of the mob is near
akin to madness.
[Lat., Nec audiendi sunt qui solent dicere vox populi, vox dei;
cum tumultus vulgi semper insaniae proxima sit.]