...by degrees they waxed more and more angry by their own…
““...by degrees they waxed more and more angry by their own shouts, and as they were not able to understand how any one could have courage without showing it by cries, they attributed the silence of the dragoons to pusillanimity, and advanced one step towards the prison, with all the turbulent mob following in their wake.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Crowds become more violent when they misinterpret silence as cowardice, driving them toward danger.
In simple terms: Mob anger grows from misunderstanding silence.
Key Takeaway
Beware misreading others' actions.
Themes
crowd behavior
misinterpretation
violence
Mood
tense
critical
Type
observational
cautionary
When to use this quote
- protests
- riots
- military standoffs
- public demonstrations
Key Concepts
psychology
group dynamics
fear
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you interpret silence in tense situations?
- What cues can prevent escalation?
A Different Perspective
Silence may also be strategic, not cowardice.