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Nor is the people's judgment always true: the most may err…

“Nor is the people's judgment always true: the most may err as grossly as the few.” quote by John Dryden
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“Nor is the people's judgment always true: the most may err as grossly as the few.”

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.

The majority can be just as wrong as a minority; popular opinion isn’t always reliable.

In simple terms: Crowds can be mistaken.

Key Takeaway

Don’t accept popular opinion without scrutiny.

Themes

wisdom judgment majority vs minority error

Mood

skeptical inquisitive

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • political decision making
  • media consumption
  • legal judgments

Key Concepts

Epistemology critical thinking

Questions to Reflect On

  • When have you trusted a majority that proved wrong?
  • How do you verify collective judgments?
A Different Perspective

Majority opinion may be swayed by bias or misinformation.

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