Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the
prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such
opinions.
—Albert Einstein, 1954
There is no nonsense so gross that society will not, at some time, make a doctrine of it and
defend it with every weapon of communal stupidity.
—Robertson Davies, 1994
Wherever you come near the human race, there’s layers and layers on nonsense.
—Thornton Wilder, 1938
The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly
absurd; indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widespread belief is
more likely to be foolish than sensible.
—Bertrand Russell, 1929
The voice of majority is no proof of justice.
—Friedrich von Schiller, 1800
A foolish cry, though taken by thirty-six millions of voices, does not cease to be foolish.
—Anatole France, 1908
2
Fallacies […] do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions.
—G. K. Chesterton, 1930
Public opinion, a vulgar, impertinent, anonymous tyrant who deliberately makes life
unpleasant for anyone who is not content to be the average man.
—Dean Inge, 1919
Public opinion is a chaos of superstition, misinformation, and prejudice.
—Gore Vidal, 1965
The pretence of collective wisdom is the most palatable of all impostures.
—William Godwin, 1793
A collection of a hundred Great Brains makes one big fathead.
—Carl Jung, 1964
A committee can make a decision that is dumber than any of its members.
—Anonymous
3
One man alone can be pretty dumb sometimes, but for real bona fide stupidity, there ain’t
nothing can beat teamwork.
—Edward Abbey, 1975
2
A later paraphrase of this statement by W. Somerset Maugham (with the corresponding adjustment of the number :-) is also frequently quoted.
3
In several collections, this wisdom is attributed to some David B. Coblitz, but I could not find a
reliable confirmation of this authorship.
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On Society and Solitude, Liberty and Civilization
prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such
opinions.
—Albert Einstein, 1954
There is no nonsense so gross that society will not, at some time, make a doctrine of it and
defend it with every weapon of communal stupidity.
—Robertson Davies, 1994
Wherever you come near the human race, there’s layers and layers on nonsense.
—Thornton Wilder, 1938
The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly
absurd; indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widespread belief is
more likely to be foolish than sensible.
—Bertrand Russell, 1929
The voice of majority is no proof of justice.
—Friedrich von Schiller, 1800
A foolish cry, though taken by thirty-six millions of voices, does not cease to be foolish.
—Anatole France, 1908
2
Fallacies […] do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions.
—G. K. Chesterton, 1930
Public opinion, a vulgar, impertinent, anonymous tyrant who deliberately makes life
unpleasant for anyone who is not content to be the average man.
—Dean Inge, 1919
Public opinion is a chaos of superstition, misinformation, and prejudice.
—Gore Vidal, 1965
The pretence of collective wisdom is the most palatable of all impostures.
—William Godwin, 1793
A collection of a hundred Great Brains makes one big fathead.
—Carl Jung, 1964
A committee can make a decision that is dumber than any of its members.
—Anonymous
3
One man alone can be pretty dumb sometimes, but for real bona fide stupidity, there ain’t
nothing can beat teamwork.
—Edward Abbey, 1975
2
A later paraphrase of this statement by W. Somerset Maugham (with the corresponding adjustment of the number :-) is also frequently quoted.
3
In several collections, this wisdom is attributed to some David B. Coblitz, but I could not find a
reliable confirmation of this authorship.
146
On Society and Solitude, Liberty and Civilization