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About this quote

What does it mean?
Majority rule can lead to irrational outcomes where the sane suffer.
In plain terms
If most people are wrong, the right ones suffer.
What can you take from it?
Be wary of blindly following the majority.

Where it applies

  • voting
  • group decisions
  • social pressure

Putting it to work

  • think independently
  • question trends
  • vote wisely

Questions to consider

  • Do you follow the crowd or think independently?
  • What if the majority is wrong?

Another view

Majority rule is still the best system available.

More from Horace Mann

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  2. When a child can be brought to tears, and not from fear of punishment, but from repentance he needs no chastisement. When the tears begin to flow from the grie…

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  3. Teaching isn't one-tenth as effective as training.

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