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About this quote

What does it mean?
Minorities are often right; majorities are often wrong.
In plain terms
The minority is usually right, the majority wrong.
What can you take from it?
Listen to dissenting voices.

Where it applies

  • social movements
  • policy debates

Putting it to work

  • critical analysis
  • inclusive decision‑making

Questions to consider

  • When should minority opinions be given weight?
  • How can we avoid assuming majority error?

Another view

Majorities can be correct; overgeneralizing is risky.

More from Samuel Langhorne Clemens

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  2. There are three kinds of lies - Lies, damned lies, and statistics.

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