--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: MULTITUDE, n. A crowd; the source of…" description: "\"MULTITUDE, n. A crowd; the source of political wisdom and virtue. In a republic, the object of the statesman's adoration.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a70/ambrose-bierce-140_adoration_multitude-n-a-crowd-the-source-of-politi_3039849.jpg" --- # MULTITUDE, n. A crowd; the source of political wisdom and… ![“MULTITUDE, n. A crowd; the source of political wisdom and virtue. In a republic, the object of the statesman's adoration.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a70/ambrose-bierce-140_adoration_multitude-n-a-crowd-the-source-of-politi_3039849.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a70/ambrose-bierce-140_adoration_multitude-n-a-crowd-the-source-of-politi_3039849.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a70/ambrose-bierce-140_adoration_multitude-n-a-crowd-the-source-of-politi_3039849.jpg) > “MULTITUDE, n. A crowd; the source of political wisdom and virtue. In a republic, the object of the statesman's adoration.” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 'Multitude' denotes a crowd that provides political wisdom and virtue, admired by statesmen in a republic. **In simple terms:** Crowds offer collective wisdom for governance. Key Takeaway Value diverse public opinion in politics. Themes politics wisdom community Mood thoughtful analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - elections - public forums - citizen assemblies Key Concepts crowd republic statesman Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders discern true wisdom? - What safeguards protect against mob rule? A Different Perspective Majorities can be misled. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adoration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adoration/) [Crowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crowd/) [Crowd Source](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crowd-source-4039554/) [Crowds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crowds/) [Multitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multitude/) [Multitude Crowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multitude-crowd-5004718/) [Multitudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multitudes/) [Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objects/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-wisdom/) [Republic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republic/) [Republic Object](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republic-object-5004719/) [Source](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/source/) [Statesmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statesmen/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Let's crowd source, curate, and add royalties to books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/let-s-crowd-source-curate-and-add-royalties-to-books/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [When the first people started to argue against slavery, for example, this was a new idea. If you crowd-source, you'd never come up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-goldstein/when-the-first-people-started-to-argue-against-slavery-for-example/) [Rebecca Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-goldstein/) > [“By highlighting what she learned from Jimmy on these cross-country trips, Grace was affirming the political wisdom that he derived from his background and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-ward/by-highlighting-what-she-learned-from-jimmy-on-these-cross-country/) [Stephen M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-ward/) > [Will not perhaps the temporal power of Islam return and with it the menace of an armed Mohammedan world, which will shake off the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/will-not-perhaps-the-temporal-power-of-islam-return-and-with-it-the/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [“Justice, humanity, or political wisdom, are qualities they are too little acquainted with in themselves, to appreciate them in others. Valor will acquire their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/justice-humanity-or-political-wisdom-are-qualities-they-are-too/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [I believe we are going to have to prepare ourselves for the difficult and patient task of outgrowing rigid and intransigent nationalism, and work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/i-believe-we-are-going-to-have-to-prepare-ourselves-for-the-difficult/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Man, says Protagoras, now has the wisdom necessary for life ... but he does not have political wisdom. At this point, people are living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ludwig-landsberg/man-says-protagoras-now-has-the-wisdom-necessary-for-life-but-he-does/) [Paul Ludwig Landsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ludwig-landsberg/) > [It is my earnest hope that all parties across the political spectrum will bear Hong Kong's long-term interests in mind, apply their political wisdom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-lam/it-is-my-earnest-hope-that-all-parties-across-the-political-spectrum/) [Carrie Lam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-lam/) > [Neither an enlightened philosophy, nor all the political wisdom of Rome, nor even the faith and virtue of the Christians availed against the incorrigible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/neither-an-enlightened-philosophy-nor-all-the-political-wisdom-of/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [My heart trembles when I reflect that God is just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/my-heart-trembles-when-i-reflect-that-god-is-just/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [If the first year of the Trump administration has made anything clear, it's that experience, knowledge, education and political wisdom matter tremendously. Governing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chatterton-williams/if-the-first-year-of-the-trump-administration-has-made-anything-clear/) [Thomas Chatterton Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chatterton-williams/) > [The beginning of political wisdom is the realization that despite everything you’ve always been taught, the government is not really on your side; indeed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/the-beginning-of-political-wisdom-is-the-realization-that-despite/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [It may be assumed as an axiom that Providence has never gifted any political party with all of political wisdom or blinded it with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-george-nicolay/it-may-be-assumed-as-an-axiom-that-providence-has-never-gifted-any/) [John George Nicolay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-george-nicolay/) > [In America we're seeing the emergence of Donald Trump, who's the anti-establishment candidate, if you will, who's bucking all the conventional political wisdom on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-bernardi/in-america-we-re-seeing-the-emergence-of-donald-trump-who-s-the-anti/) [Cory Bernardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-bernardi/) > [The study of History is the beginning of wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-bodin/the-study-of-history-is-the-beginning-of-wisdom/) [Jean Bodin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-bodin/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Adoration quotes > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Come to Him fresh today, with no agenda but to let Him hold you. Just sit in adoration of Him, casting all of yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-gimour/come-to-him-fresh-today-with-no-agenda-but-to-let-him-hold-you-just/) [Eric Gimour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-gimour/) > [Being is good, but getting rich is better… If the gods had only the riches of men's adoration, they would be as poor as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/being-is-good-but-getting-rich-is-better-if-the-gods-had-only-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [You are still despised and mocked, A man too weak and infirm to be God, A God too much man to call forth adoration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil/you-are-still-despised-and-mocked-a-man-too-weak-and-infirm-to-be-god/) [Khalil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil/) > [“Adoration can be misleading. The same crowd who spread palm branches for Jesus to ride upon, was the same crowd who crucified Him three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-h-fowler/adoration-can-be-misleading-the-same-crowd-who-spread-palm-branches/) [H.H. Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-h-fowler/) > [I just want the money and the fame and the adoration, and I don't want any of the other stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-broderick/i-just-want-the-money-and-the-fame-and-the-adoration-and-i-don-t-want/) [Matthew Broderick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-broderick/) > [There and then, sitting beside her and within the strength of my adoration, I felt invincible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hisham-matar/there-and-then-sitting-beside-her-and-within-the-strength-of-my/) [Hisham Matar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hisham-matar/) > [If we allow our self-congratulatory adoration of technology to distract us from our own contact with each other, then somehow the original agenda has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaron-lanier/if-we-allow-our-self-congratulatory-adoration-of-technology-to/) [Jaron Lanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaron-lanier/) > [My aim is to institute perpetual adoration," spoke St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe, Franciscan priest and founder of the Knights of the Immaculata. For he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilian-kolbe/my-aim-is-to-institute-perpetual-adoration-spoke-st-maximilian-maria/) [Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilian-kolbe/) > [Phony gurus make themselves objects of adoration and worship. Real spiritual teachers aren't interested in adoration and worship. They like respect only because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/phony-gurus-make-themselves-objects-of-adoration-and-worship-real/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Christ sits in the body at the right hand of God the Father, but we do not hold that the right hand of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/christ-sits-in-the-body-at-the-right-hand-of-god-the-father-but-we-do/) [John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/) > [Blind adoration, in the age of action, is perfectly valueless, is often embarrassing and, equally, often painful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/blind-adoration-in-the-age-of-action-is-perfectly-valueless-is-often/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [I do not think I should care to go on worshipping a Madonna even if she did wink. One cannot make much out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/i-do-not-think-i-should-care-to-go-on-worshipping-a-madonna-even-if/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“Let's just give her a ride into town," Suzanne said. She spoke briskly, like I was a mess that needed to be cleaned up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-cline/let-s-just-give-her-a-ride-into-town-suzanne-said-she-spoke-briskly/) [Emma Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-cline/) > [I adore the way he looks at me sometimes, as if love is a quantity he cannot measure scientifically, because it multiplies too quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-adore-the-way-he-looks-at-me-sometimes-as-if-love-is-a-quantity-he/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) [Browse all 340 Adoration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adoration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "MULTITUDE, n. A crowd; the source of political wisdom and virtue. 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