---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Singularity in the right hath ruined…"
description: "\"Singularity in the right hath ruined many; happy those who are convinced of the general opinion.\" — Benjamin Franklin"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/benjamin-franklin-65_conform_singularity-in-the-right-hath-ruined-man_2429066.png"
---

#  Singularity in the right hath ruined many; happy those who…

![“Singularity in the right hath ruined many; happy those who are convinced of the general opinion.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/benjamin-franklin-65_conform_singularity-in-the-right-hath-ruined-man_2429066.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/benjamin-franklin-65_conform_singularity-in-the-right-hath-ruined-man_2429066.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/benjamin-franklin-65_conform_singularity-in-the-right-hath-ruined-man_2429066.png)

> “Singularity in the right hath ruined many; happy those who are convinced of the general opinion.”

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

## About This Quote

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

Following popular opinion can lead to ruin; those who trust their own judgment may find happiness.

**In simple terms:** Blindly following crowds can harm; trusting yourself helps.

Key Takeaway

Question the majority, trust your own reason.

Themes

conformity independence wisdom

Mood

cautious thoughtful

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- decision making
- leadership
- personal finance
- political activism

Key Concepts

critical thinking social influence

Questions to Reflect On

- When have you followed the crowd?
- What would happen if you chose differently?

A Different Perspective

Societal pressure often makes dissent costly.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Conform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conform/) [Conformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conformity/) [Convinced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convinced/) [Convinced General](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convinced-general-257529/) [General Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general-opinion-257530/) [Hath Ruined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hath-ruined-257528/) [Nonconformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonconformity/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Ruined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruined/) [Singularity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singularity/) [Singularity Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singularity-right-257527/)

## Related quotes

> [... professing myself moreover convinced that the general's unjust interference, so far from being really injurious to their felicity, was perhaps rather conducive to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/professing-myself-moreover-convinced-that-the-general-s-unjust/)

[Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/)

> [My mum is bright, ambitious, well read, political and very bolshie: when my dad was conscripted into the Army and posted to Libya, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/my-mum-is-bright-ambitious-well-read-political-and-very-bolshie-when/)

[Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/)

> [I also believe that when something negative comes out about you in the media, that's only one person's opinion. These guys sometimes believe they've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/i-also-believe-that-when-something-negative-comes-out-about-you-in/)

[Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/)

> [The noble position of motherhood aside, our general opinion about women is that, while taking into account their specific needs, it should be made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fethullah-gulen/the-noble-position-of-motherhood-aside-our-general-opinion-about/)

[Fethullah Gulen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fethullah-gulen/)

> [Some of the most valuable stuff I do has to do with my dissenting from the general opinion about people in movements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/some-of-the-most-valuable-stuff-i-do-has-to-do-with-my-dissenting/)

[Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/)

> [“I speak what appears to me the general opinion; and where an opinion is general, it is usually correct. Though”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/i-speak-what-appears-to-me-the-general-opinion-and-where-an-opinion/)

[Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/)

> [General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/general-opinion-s-starting-to-make-out-that-we-live-in-a-world-of/)

[Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/)

> [And that which yesterday was the novel opinion of one man, to-day becomes the general opinion of the majority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/and-that-which-yesterday-was-the-novel-opinion-of-one-man-to-day/)

[Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/)

> [“Everyone sees what you seem to be, few know what you really are; and those few do not dare take a stand against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/everyone-sees-what-you-seem-to-be-few-know-what-you-really-are-and/)

[Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/)

> [When about 16 Years of Age, I happened to meet with a Book written by one Tryon, recommending a Vegetable Diet. I determined to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/when-about-16-years-of-age-i-happened-to-meet-with-a-book-written-by/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [My refusing to eat meat occasioned inconveniency, and I have been frequently chided for my singularity. But my light repast allows for greater progress,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/my-refusing-to-eat-meat-occasioned-inconveniency-and-i-have-been/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [My refusing to eat flesh occasioned an inconveniency, and I was frequently chid for my singularity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/my-refusing-to-eat-flesh-occasioned-an-inconveniency-and-i-was/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [I've always been a nonconformist. I think that nonconformity is part of the American DNA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-miller/i-ve-always-been-a-nonconformist-i-think-that-nonconformity-is-part/)

[Stephen Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-miller/)

> [Nonconformity is the highest evolutionary attainment of social animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/nonconformity-is-the-highest-evolutionary-attainment-of-social-animals/)

[Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/)

> [“More I try to straighten my life, more I'm overcome with the paradox I am. Once the sea attains its vastness, it is impossible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/more-i-try-to-straighten-my-life-more-i-m-overcome-with-the-paradox-i/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

## More by Benjamin Franklin

> [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [How do you become better tomorrow? By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/how-do-you-become-better-tomorrow-by-improving-yourself-the-world-is/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-is-rich-he-that-is-content-who-is-that-nobody/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [“But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-on-the-whole-though-i-never-arrived-at-the-perfection-i-had-been/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [The good particular men may do separately, in relieving the sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-particular-men-may-do-separately-in-relieving-the-sick-is/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-counsel-in-wine-but-resolve-afterwards-in-water/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [He that's secure is not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-s-secure-is-not-safe/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

[Explore all 1,692 Benjamin Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

## More Conform quotes

> [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [Majority decisions tend to be made without engaging the systematic thought and critical thinking skills of the individuals in the group. Given the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/majority-decisions-tend-to-be-made-without-engaging-the-systematic/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The male dares to be different to the degree that he accepts his passivity and his desire to be female, his fagginess. The farthest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-solanas/the-male-dares-to-be-different-to-the-degree-that-he-accepts-his/)

[Valerie Solanas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-solanas/)

> [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/)

[Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/)

> [What draws friends together does not conform to the laws of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/what-draws-friends-together-does-not-conform-to-the-laws-of-nature/)

[Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/)

> [The survival of the fittest is the ageless law of nature, but the fittest are rarely the strong. The fittest are those endowed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-smalley/the-survival-of-the-fittest-is-the-ageless-law-of-nature-but-the/)

[Dave Smalley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-smalley/)

> [Public and private funds have been thrown around like confetti at a country fair, to close up and destroy clinics, hospitals, and scientific research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-fitzgerald/public-and-private-funds-have-been-thrown-around-like-confetti-at-a/)

[Benedict Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-fitzgerald/)

> [ \[An engineer's\] invention causes things to come into existence from ideas, makes world conform to thought; whereas science, by deriving ideas from observation, makes… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-mitcham/an-engineer-s-invention-causes-things-to-come-into-existence-from/)

[Carl Mitcham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-mitcham/)

> [You know the question: 'How do you get to Carnegie Hall?' Answer: 'Practise?' Well, in my case, I got there by not practising. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/you-know-the-question-how-do-you-get-to-carnegie-hall-answer-practise/)

[Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/)

> [More importantly, the Court forgets that ours is a government of laws and not of men. That means we are governed by the terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/more-importantly-the-court-forgets-that-ours-is-a-government-of-laws/)

[Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/)

> [No one familiar with the common law of England can read the Constitution of the United States without observing the great desire of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-freeman-miller/no-one-familiar-with-the-common-law-of-england-can-read-the/)

[Samuel Freeman Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-freeman-miller/)

> [A classic is classic not because it conforms to certain structural rules, or fits certain definitions (of which its author had quite probably never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/a-classic-is-classic-not-because-it-conforms-to-certain-structural/)

[Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/)

> [Fathers never have exactly the daughters they want because they invent a notion a them that the daughters have to conform to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/fathers-never-have-exactly-the-daughters-they-want-because-they/)

[Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/)

> [Extroversion is an enormously appealing personality style, but we've turned it into an oppressive standard to which most of us feel we must conform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/extroversion-is-an-enormously-appealing-personality-style-but-we-ve/)

[Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/)

> [The Bible was written not to satisfy your curiosity but to help you conform to Christ's image. Not to make you a smarter sinner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/the-bible-was-written-not-to-satisfy-your-curiosity-but-to-help-you/)

[Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/)

[Browse all 640 Conform quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conform/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Singularity in the right hath ruined many; happy those who are convinced of the general opinion.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Benjamin Franklin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/singularity-in-the-right-hath-ruined-many-happy-those-who-are/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Conform"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/singularity-in-the-right-hath-ruined-many-happy-those-who-are/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/benjamin-franklin-65_conform_singularity-in-the-right-hath-ruined-man_2429066.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/benjamin-franklin-65_conform_singularity-in-the-right-hath-ruined-man_2429066.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/benjamin-franklin-65_conform_singularity-in-the-right-hath-ruined-man_2429066.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Singularity in the right hath ruined many; happy those who are convinced of the general opinion.” — Benjamin Franklin",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Benjamin Franklin",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Singularity in the right hath ruined...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/singularity-in-the-right-hath-ruined-many-happy-those-who-are/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/singularity-in-the-right-hath-ruined-many-happy-those-who-are/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
