Assembly Quote by Alexander Hamilton
“In all very numerous assemblies, of whatever character composed, passion never fails to wrest the sceptre from reason. Had every Athenian citizen been a Socrates, every Athenian assembly would still have been a mob.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Federalist Papers, No. 51, 1788
Passion can dominate group decisions, overriding rational deliberation, even among educated citizens.
In simple terms: Emotion can overpower reason in groups.
Key Takeaway
Beware of emotional sway in decision‑making.
Themes
politics
human
group dynamics
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- legislative debates
- board meetings
- online forums
- public protests
Key Concepts
rationalism
emotional intelligence
democracy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can institutions protect rational debate?
- What mechanisms curb emotional dominance in groups?
A Different Perspective
Reasoned discourse can be drowned out by charismatic rhetoric.
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