When great changes occur in history, when great principles are involved, as a rule the majority are wrong.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- During major historical shifts involving core principles, the majority of people often make mistakes.
- In plain terms
- When big changes happen, most people usually get the important principles wrong.
- What can you take from it?
- Trust critical thinking over majority opinion during times of significant change.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is the majority right?
- How do we identify true principles?
Another view
This overlooks cases where majority wisdom drives positive progress.
More from Eugene V. Debs
The people can have anything they want. The trouble is, they do not want anything. At least they vote that way on election day.
Permalink to quote #61 Solidarity is not a matter of sentiment but a fact, cold and impassive as the granite foundations of a skyscraper. If the basic elements, identity of interest,…
Permalink to quote #60 It is better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
Permalink to quote #59
Related quotes
The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.
Antonio GramsciAntonio Gramsci quote #3 Go by reverently, and read with sober care How a great people, riding with defiant shouts The centaur of Revolution, Spurred and whipped to frenzy, Shook with …
Edgar Lee MastersEdgar Lee Masters quote #3 Usually, terrible things that are done with the excuse that progress requires them are not really progress at all, but just terrible things.
Russell BakerRussell Baker quote #6