--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men are a good deal better collectively…" description: "\"Men are a good deal better collectively than they are individually. Many a man will do that privately which he will denounce in a crowd.\" — E. W. Howe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcc/e-w-howe-2815_crowds_men-are-a-good-deal-better-collectively_251844.png" --- # Men are a good deal better collectively than they are… ![“Men are a good deal better collectively than they are individually. Many a man will do that privately which he will denounce in a crowd.” quote by E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcc/e-w-howe-2815_crowds_men-are-a-good-deal-better-collectively_251844.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcc/e-w-howe-2815_crowds_men-are-a-good-deal-better-collectively_251844.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcc/e-w-howe-2815_crowds_men-are-a-good-deal-better-collectively_251844.png) > “Men are a good deal better collectively than they are individually. Many a man will do that privately which he will denounce in a crowd.” [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often act more responsibly in groups than alone, yet may hide their true behavior when observed. **In simple terms:** Group settings encourage better behavior, but hypocrisy appears when observed. Key Takeaway Be aware of the gap between private actions and public statements. Themes ethics social behavior hypocrisy Mood thoughtful contemplative Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - team projects - public speaking - online forums Key Concepts conformity self‑presentation Questions to Reflect On - Why do individuals hide true intentions in crowds? - How does anonymity affect honesty? A Different Perspective Group pressure can also lead to performative morality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Collectively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-collectively-2503644/) [Collectively Individually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collectively-individually-323080/) [Crowds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crowds/) [Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Individually Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individually-man-2503643/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Man Privately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-privately-2152295/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-good/) ## Related quotes > [We need to take the good out of everything and if this makes us push even harder individually then we will be just better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-dias/we-need-to-take-the-good-out-of-everything-and-if-this-makes-us-push/) [Ruben Dias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-dias/) > [“thereby gain much leisure, and save much trouble, and therefore at every action a man must privately by way of admonition suggest unto himself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/thereby-gain-much-leisure-and-save-much-trouble-and-therefore-at/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [I think we buy into the idea of competition to much. As if, when others gain something, that automatically results in a loss for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsepiso-makhubedu/i-think-we-buy-into-the-idea-of-competition-to-much-as-if-when-others/) [Tsepiso Makhubedu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsepiso-makhubedu/) > [“So much depends upon our willingness to make up our minds, collectively and individually, that our present levels of performance are not acceptable, either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/so-much-depends-upon-our-willingness-to-make-up-our-minds/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [Collectively and individually fielding is largely a matter of thoughts and discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-peebles/collectively-and-individually-fielding-is-largely-a-matter-of/) [Ian Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-peebles/) > [Motley Crue, collectively and individually, have done things on our own terms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/motley-crue-collectively-and-individually-have-done-things-on-our-own/) [Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/) > [I hear many condemn these men because they were so few. When were the good and the brave ever in a majority? Would you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-hear-many-condemn-these-men-because-they-were-so-few-when-were-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation. It is better be alone than in bad company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/associate-yourself-with-men-of-good-quality-if-you-esteem-your-own/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“The devil doesn't make plans, anyway, if men were good, he wouldn't even exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/the-devil-doesn-t-make-plans-anyway-if-men-were-good-he-wouldn-t-even/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [“War gives men good ignoring skills.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/war-gives-men-good-ignoring-skills/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“What a sad thing men are. Can’t do nothing good without being so weak we have to mess it up. Can’t build something up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/what-a-sad-thing-men-are-can-t-do-nothing-good-without-being-so-weak/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [All men are good when free from passion, interest, or error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugenio-maria-de-hostos/all-men-are-good-when-free-from-passion-interest-or-error/) [Eugenio Maria de Hostos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugenio-maria-de-hostos/) > [The Gospel of Jesus Christ can make bad men good and good men better, can alter human nature, and can change human lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-gospel-of-jesus-christ-can-make-bad-men-good-and-good-men-better/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [When I saw him I thought I could curl up inside him and go to sleep and never wake up." "Men are no good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/when-i-saw-him-i-thought-i-could-curl-up-inside-him-and-go-to-sleep/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“We had learned on the North Face of the Eiger that men are good and the earth on which we were born is good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-harrer/we-had-learned-on-the-north-face-of-the-eiger-that-men-are-good-and/) [Heinrich Harrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-harrer/) ## More by E. W. Howe > [There is always a type of man who says he loves his fellow men, and expects to make a living at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/there-is-always-a-type-of-man-who-says-he-loves-his-fellow-men-and/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [I believe in grumbling; it is the politest form of fighting known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/i-believe-in-grumbling-it-is-the-politest-form-of-fighting-known/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [A theory is no more like a fact than a photograph is like a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/a-theory-is-no-more-like-a-fact-than-a-photograph-is-like-a-person/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [Few men progress, except as they are pushed along by events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/few-men-progress-except-as-they-are-pushed-along-by-events/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [The modest person is usually admired, if people ever hear of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/the-modest-person-is-usually-admired-if-people-ever-hear-of-them/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [The greatest thing in the world is for a man to be able to do something well, and say nothing about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/the-greatest-thing-in-the-world-is-for-a-man-to-be-able-to-do/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [No man would listen to you talk if he didn't know it was his turn next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/no-man-would-listen-to-you-talk-if-he-didn-t-know-it-was-his-turn-next/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [People never have confidence in a Big Talker. They know his statements must be cut down, but they can never tell how much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/people-never-have-confidence-in-a-big-talker-they-know-his-statements/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [The only gambling tip which amounts to anything is to keep out of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/the-only-gambling-tip-which-amounts-to-anything-is-to-keep-out-of-the/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [One has fear in front of a goat, in back of a mule, and on every side of a fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/one-has-fear-in-front-of-a-goat-in-back-of-a-mule-and-on-every-side/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [No man's credit is ever as good as his money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/no-man-s-credit-is-ever-as-good-as-his-money/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [Some men storm imaginary Alps all their lives, and die in the foothills cursing difficulties which do not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/some-men-storm-imaginary-alps-all-their-lives-and-die-in-the/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [There is something in the red of a raspberry pie that looks as good to a man as the red in a sheep looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/there-is-something-in-the-red-of-a-raspberry-pie-that-looks-as-good/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [Love affairs have always greatly interested me, but I do not greatly care for them in books or moving pictures. In a love affair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/love-affairs-have-always-greatly-interested-me-but-i-do-not-greatly/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [Many people would be more truthful were it not for their uncontrollable desire to talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/many-people-would-be-more-truthful-were-it-not-for-their/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) [Explore all 149 E. W. Howe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. If you play for a dead audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-ve-always-said-about-50-of-what-happens-at-a-concert-has-to-do-with/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [The New England spirit does not seek solutions in a crowd; raw light and solitariness are less dreaded than welcomed as enhancers of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/the-new-england-spirit-does-not-seek-solutions-in-a-crowd-raw-light/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) [Browse all 2,078 Crowds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crowds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Men are a good deal better collectively than they are individually. Many a man will do that privately which he will denounce in a crowd.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "E. W. Howe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/men-are-a-good-deal-better-collectively-than-they-are-individually/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Crowds" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/men-are-a-good-deal-better-collectively-than-they-are-individually/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcc/e-w-howe-2815_crowds_men-are-a-good-deal-better-collectively_251844.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcc/e-w-howe-2815_crowds_men-are-a-good-deal-better-collectively_251844.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcc/e-w-howe-2815_crowds_men-are-a-good-deal-better-collectively_251844.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Men are a good deal better collectively than they are individually. Many a man will do that privately which…” — E. W. Howe", "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": "E. W. Howe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Men are a good deal better...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/men-are-a-good-deal-better-collectively-than-they-are-individually/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/men-are-a-good-deal-better-collectively-than-they-are-individually/#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 } } ] } ```