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If by the people you understand the multitude, the hoi…

“If by the people you understand the multitude, the hoi polloi, 'tis no matter what they think; they are sometimes in the right, sometimes in the wrong; their judgment is a mere lottery.” quote by John Dryden
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“If by the people you understand the multitude, the hoi polloi, 'tis no matter what they think; they are sometimes in the right, sometimes in the wrong; their judgment is a mere lottery.”

John Dryden

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People’s opinions are unpredictable and often random, so they shouldn’t be taken as absolute truth.

In simple terms: Public opinion is like a lottery.

Key Takeaway

Don’t rely solely on popular opinion.

Themes

judgment society uncertainty

Mood

skeptical reflective

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

  • political debates
  • marketing strategies
  • team decisions
  • media consumption

Key Concepts

probability collective decision making

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you evaluate the reliability of majority views?
  • When should you trust your own judgment over the crowd?
A Different Perspective

Popular opinion can be swayed by bias and misinformation.

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