--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the…" description: "\"Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds\" — Charles Mackay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/charles-mackay-17756_crowds_extraordinary-popular-delusions-and-the_1229009.png" --- # Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds ![“Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds” quote by Charles Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/charles-mackay-17756_crowds_extraordinary-popular-delusions-and-the_1229009.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/charles-mackay-17756_crowds_extraordinary-popular-delusions-and-the_1229009.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1b/charles-mackay-17756_crowds_extraordinary-popular-delusions-and-the_1229009.png) > “Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds” [Charles Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mackay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mass hysteria and collective irrationality arise when people follow popular opinion without critical thinking. **In simple terms:** Crowds can act irrationally. Key Takeaway Question assumptions before joining trends. Themes crowd psychology irrationality social influence Mood skeptical analytical Type cautionary observational When to use this quote - investment bubbles - political rallies - viral media - public policy debates Key Concepts herd behavior biases propagation of ideas Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify facts before accepting popular views? - What mechanisms protect against groupthink? 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Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-wolfe/) > [Doubt is the big machine. It grinds up the delusions of women and men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-lavalle/doubt-is-the-big-machine-it-grinds-up-the-delusions-of-women-and-men/) [Victor LaValle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-lavalle/) > [One of the most persistent of all delusions is the conviction that the source of our dissatisfaction lies outside ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-alan-wallace/one-of-the-most-persistent-of-all-delusions-is-the-conviction-that/) [B. Alan Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-alan-wallace/) > [Through our senses the world appears. 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Davroe ## More by Charles Mackay > [Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mackay/men-it-has-been-well-said-think-in-herds-it-will-be-seen-that-they-go/) [Charles Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mackay/) > [An arrow may fly through the air and leave no trace; but an ill thought leaves a trail like a serpent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mackay/an-arrow-may-fly-through-the-air-and-leave-no-trace-but-an-ill/) [Charles Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mackay/) > [“Oh, you tears, I'm thankful that you run. Though you trickle in the darkness, You shall glitter in the sun. The rainbow could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mackay/oh-you-tears-i-m-thankful-that-you-run-though-you-trickle-in-the/) [Charles Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mackay/) > [There is no such thing as death. In nature nothing dies. From each sad remnant of decay, some forms of life arise so shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mackay/there-is-no-such-thing-as-death-in-nature-nothing-dies-from-each-sad/) [Charles Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mackay/) > [The study of the errors into which great minds have fallen in the pursuit of truth can never be uninstructive. . . No man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mackay/the-study-of-the-errors-into-which-great-minds-have-fallen-in-the/) [Charles Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mackay/) > [Truth . . . and if mine eyes Can bear its blaze, and trace its symmetries, Measure its distance, and its advent wait, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mackay/truth-and-if-mine-eyes-can-bear-its-blaze-and-trace-its-symmetries/) [Charles Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mackay/) > [Nations, like individuals, cannot become desperate gamblers with impunity. Punishment is sure to overtake them sooner or later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mackay/nations-like-individuals-cannot-become-desperate-gamblers-with/) [Charles Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mackay/) > [“We find that whole communities suddenly fix their minds upon one object, and go mad in its pursuit; that millions of people become simultaneously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mackay/we-find-that-whole-communities-suddenly-fix-their-minds-upon-one/) [Charles MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mackay/) > [Tell me, ye wingèd winds That round my pathway roar, Know ye not some spot Where mortals weep no more?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mackay/tell-me-ye-wing-d-winds-that-round-my-pathway-roar-know-ye-not-some/) [Charles Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mackay/) > [War in men's eyes shall be A monster of iniquity In the good time coming. Nations shall not quarrel then, To prove which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mackay/war-in-men-s-eyes-shall-be-a-monster-of-iniquity-in-the-good-time/) [Charles Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mackay/) > [He who has mingled in the fray of duty that the brave endure, must have made foes. If you have none, small is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mackay/he-who-has-mingled-in-the-fray-of-duty-that-the-brave-endure-must/) [Charles Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mackay/) > [Some love to roam o'er the dark sea's foam, Where the shrill winds whistle free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mackay/some-love-to-roam-o-er-the-dark-sea-s-foam-where-the-shrill-winds/) [Charles Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mackay/) > [There 's a good time coming, boys! A good time coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mackay/there-s-a-good-time-coming-boys-a-good-time-coming/) [Charles Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mackay/) > [“Three causes especially have excited the discontent of mankind; and, by impelling us to seek remedies for the irremediable, have bewildered us in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mackay/three-causes-especially-have-excited-the-discontent-of-mankind-and-by/) [Charles MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mackay/) > [“In reading The History of Nations, we find that, like individuals, they have their whims and their peculiarities, their seasons of excitement and recklessness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mackay/in-reading-the-history-of-nations-we-find-that-like-individuals-they/) [Charles MacKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mackay/) [Explore all 36 Charles Mackay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mackay/) ## More Crowds quotes > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [A man has a right to use a saw, an axe, a plane, separately; may he not combine their uses on the same piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-man-has-a-right-to-use-a-saw-an-axe-a-plane-separately-may-he-not/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The nineteenth century lynching mob cuts off ears, toes, and fingers, strips off flesh, and distributes portions of the body as souvenirs among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-nineteenth-century-lynching-mob-cuts-off-ears-toes-and-fingers/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-aunt-and-uncle-will-be-proud-though-won-t-they-said-hermione-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never belong to a crowd; Never belong to a nation; Never belong to a religion; Never belong to a race. Belong to the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/never-belong-to-a-crowd-never-belong-to-a-nation-never-belong-to-a/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [It's been really fun to see with each album when I change to see the fans of the show emulate my style and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/it-s-been-really-fun-to-see-with-each-album-when-i-change-to-see-the/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [When the American people saw the LA riots and crowds of Blacks cheering O.J. Simpson (who was acquitted by the almost all Black jury),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/when-the-american-people-saw-the-la-riots-and-crowds-of-blacks/) [David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/) > [I'm neurotic in the sense that I can have a crowd of 300 people cheering you, applauding you, standing O, but one guy come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-white/i-m-neurotic-in-the-sense-that-i-can-have-a-crowd-of-300-people/) [Wayne White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-white/) > [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/) Nicholas Roerich > [I want people to just be paying attention even if they're not necessarily laughing at something, or if it takes them a while to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-want-people-to-just-be-paying-attention-even-if-they-re-not/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [I am rarely bored alone; I am often bored in groups and crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/i-am-rarely-bored-alone-i-am-often-bored-in-groups-and-crowds/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [It might be lonelier Without the Loneliness - I’m so accustomed to my Fate - Perhaps the Other - Peace - Would interrupt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/it-might-be-lonelier-without-the-loneliness-i-m-so-accustomed-to-my/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [I've always said about 50% of what happens at a concert has to do with the audience. 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