--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But, to return to my design, what power…" description: "\"“But, to return to my design, what power was it that drew those stony, oaken, and wild people into cities but flattery? For nothing else is signified b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/erasmus-40386_common-people_but-to-return-to-my-design-what-power-wa_3096310.jpg" --- # But, to return to my design, what power was it that drew… ![“But, to return to my design, what power was it that drew those stony, oaken, and wild people into cities but flattery? For nothing else is signified by Amphion and Orpheus' harp. What was it that, when the common people of Rome were like to have destroyed all by their mutiny, reduced them to…” quote by Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/erasmus-40386_common-people_but-to-return-to-my-design-what-power-wa_3096310.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/erasmus-40386_common-people_but-to-return-to-my-design-what-power-wa_3096310.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f75/erasmus-40386_common-people_but-to-return-to-my-design-what-power-wa_3096310.jpg) > ““But, to return to my design, what power was it that drew those stony, oaken, and wild people into cities but flattery? For nothing else is signified by Amphion and Orpheus' harp. What was it that, when the common people of Rome were like to have destroyed all by their mutiny, reduced them to obedience? Was it a philosophical oration? Least. But a ridiculous and childish fable of the belly and the rest of the members. And as good success had Themistocles in his of the fox and hedgehog. What wise man's oration could ever have done so much with the people as Sertorius' invention of his white hind? Or his ridiculous emblem of pulling off a horse's tail hair by hair? Or as Lycurgus his example of his two whelps? To say nothing of Minos and Numa, both which ruled their foolish multitudes with fabulous inventions; with which kind of toys that great and powerful beast, the people, are led anyway.”” [Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erasmus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote satirizes how leaders use trivial symbols and myths to control masses, suggesting that simple tricks, not deep philosophy, sway people. **In simple terms:** Leaders manipulate crowds with simple symbols and myths. Key Takeaway Recognize and question superficial influences. Themes politics manipulation myth leadership history Mood skeptical critical reflective Type satirical historical political When to use this quote - public speeches - political campaigns - education curricula - media messaging Key Concepts symbolism mass psychology propaganda Questions to Reflect On - What symbols do modern leaders use to influence you? - How can critical thinking reduce manipulation? A Different Perspective These tactics can backfire when people see through the deception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amphion Orpheus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amphion-orpheus-5346940/) [Common people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-people/) [Fable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fable/) [Flattery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flattery/) [Foolish Multitudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foolish-multitudes-5346938/) [Signified Amphion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/signified-amphion-5346939/) ## Related quotes > [In 'Fable III' we have taken away the experience system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-molyneux/in-fable-iii-we-have-taken-away-the-experience-system/) [Peter Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-molyneux/) > [The moral of a fable is eternal. The moral of a story is temporary to a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/the-moral-of-a-fable-is-eternal-the-moral-of-a-story-is-temporary-to/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [The Fable story hinted at a dramatic time before 'Fable 1' when the Guild was founded, this would be a perfect setting for 'Fable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-molyneux/the-fable-story-hinted-at-a-dramatic-time-before-fable-1-when-the/) [Peter Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-molyneux/) > [I think it's fantastic that people still remember Fable, and some of them are really passionate about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-molyneux/i-think-it-s-fantastic-that-people-still-remember-fable-and-some-of/) [Peter Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-molyneux/) > [As though she had entered a fable, as though she were no more than words crawling along a dry page, or as though she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/as-though-she-had-entered-a-fable-as-though-she-were-no-more-than/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [For me, the photography, in its purest form, is a variant of the fable. Another way of saving the appearances - a way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/for-me-the-photography-in-its-purest-form-is-a-variant-of-the-fable/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [Fable is more historical than fact, because fact tells us about one man and fable tells us about a million men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/fable-is-more-historical-than-fact-because-fact-tells-us-about-one/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [From this, without doubt, sprang the fable. Man created it thus, because it was not given him to see more than himself and nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-de-vigny/from-this-without-doubt-sprang-the-fable-man-created-it-thus-because/) [Alfred de Vigny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-de-vigny/) > [“In the specially Christian case we have to react against the heavy bias of fatigue. It is almost impossible to make the facts vivid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/in-the-specially-christian-case-we-have-to-react-against-the-heavy/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“A fable from the Age of Heroes." The maester tsked. "You must put these dreams aside, they will only break your heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/a-fable-from-the-age-of-heroes-the-maester-tsked-you-must-put-these/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“A Little Fable "Alas," said the mouse, "the whole world is growing smaller every day. At the beginning it was so big that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/a-little-fable-alas-said-the-mouse-the-whole-world-is-growing-smaller/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [When we transitioned from the PC to the console with 'Fable,' it took us five years to do that. And that's just going from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-molyneux/when-we-transitioned-from-the-pc-to-the-console-with-fable-it-took-us/) [Peter Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-molyneux/) > [“This isn’t a game to me, Fable. This is my life. And I want you to be a part of it … I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-murphy/this-isn-t-a-game-to-me-fable-this-is-my-life-and-i-want-you-to-be-a/) [Monica Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-murphy/) > [Despite the strength of the feminist movement in the 1970s and beyond, a fable has persisted that educated women are rejected as marriage partners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-decrow/despite-the-strength-of-the-feminist-movement-in-the-1970s-and-beyond/) [Karen DeCrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-decrow/) > [“Buy Fable! the book that rejuvenates your soul! makes your belly belly-laugh! turns your cares to dust!...likewise your moods, woes an wounds!...turns everything rosy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/buy-fable-the-book-that-rejuvenates-your-soul-makes-your-belly-belly/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) ## More by Erasmus > [“For what is more foolish than for a man to study nothing else than how to please himself? To make himself the object of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erasmus/for-what-is-more-foolish-than-for-a-man-to-study-nothing-else-than/) [Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erasmus/) > [“what is all this life but a kind of comedy, wherein men walk up and down in one another's disguises and act their respective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erasmus/what-is-all-this-life-but-a-kind-of-comedy-wherein-men-walk-up-and/) [Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erasmus/) > [“A remarkable thing happens in the experience of my fools: from them not only true things, but even sharp reproaches, will be listened to;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erasmus/a-remarkable-thing-happens-in-the-experience-of-my-fools-from-them/) [Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erasmus/) > [“And of these, a great part build so much on their ceremonies and petty traditions of men that they think one heaven is too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erasmus/and-of-these-a-great-part-build-so-much-on-their-ceremonies-and-petty/) [Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erasmus/) > [“When I get a little money, I buy books. If any is left, I buy food and clothes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erasmus/when-i-get-a-little-money-i-buy-books-if-any-is-left-i-buy-food-and/) [Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erasmus/) > [“no hay goce alguno de las cosas si no se comparten con otros.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erasmus/no-hay-goce-alguno-de-las-cosas-si-no-se-comparten-con-otros/) [Erasmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erasmus/) [Explore all 7 Erasmus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erasmus/) ## More Common people quotes > [“For rulers, religion is a great tool to rule the common people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/for-rulers-religion-is-a-great-tool-to-rule-the-common-people/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [Government not just for a few, it belongs to the common people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/government-not-just-for-a-few-it-belongs-to-the-common-people/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [“To riot or not to riot, that is the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/to-riot-or-not-to-riot-that-is-the-question/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Adventure is the invitation to common people to become uncommon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-miller/adventure-is-the-invitation-to-common-people-to-become-uncommon/) [Warren Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-miller/) > [History more often records the brilliant successes and spectacular defeats of contending forces than the effect of war on the common people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mildred-cable/history-more-often-records-the-brilliant-successes-and-spectacular/) [Mildred Cable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mildred-cable/) > [“Because the Indians are planning to start war now, the common people want all of them destroyed so that they can live in peace;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-martin-boltzius/because-the-indians-are-planning-to-start-war-now-the-common-people/) [Johann Martin Boltzius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-martin-boltzius/) > [That wise Men have in all Ages thought Government necessary for the Good of Mankind; and, that wise Governments have always thought Religion necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/that-wise-men-have-in-all-ages-thought-government-necessary-for-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. That is why there has so often been amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action-there-is-rarely-any/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [The common people feel themselves oppressed by the grasping of some, and their vanity is flattered by others. Fired with evil passions, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/the-common-people-feel-themselves-oppressed-by-the-grasping-of-some/) [Polybius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polybius/) > [“I've said this before: a lot of people think they're artists because they feel things deeply. You know, we're in a culture now and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schneider/i-ve-said-this-before-a-lot-of-people-think-they-re-artists-because/) [Dan Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schneider/) > [Network marketing is the only industry that allows common people to earn millions with a minimal investment and zero overhead, coupled with total time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-yarnell/network-marketing-is-the-only-industry-that-allows-common-people-to/) [Mark Yarnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-yarnell/) > [Common sense, in so far as it exists, is all for the bourgeoisie. Nonsense is the privilege of the aristocracy. The worries of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/common-sense-in-so-far-as-it-exists-is-all-for-the-bourgeoisie/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [But-! I say! The common conventions of humanity-' 'Are all very well for common people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-say-the-common-conventions-of-humanity-are-all-very-well-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People, the common people, can genuinely see what I'm doing. Moreover, people know that I have adopted four principles in living my life: simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-sattar-edhi/people-the-common-people-can-genuinely-see-what-i-m-doing-moreover/) [Abdul Sattar Edhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-sattar-edhi/) > [“In a sense the rise of Anabaptism was no surprise. Most revolutionary movements produce a wing of radicals who feel called of God to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-l-shelley/in-a-sense-the-rise-of-anabaptism-was-no-surprise-most-revolutionary/) [Bruce L. Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-l-shelley/) [Browse all 297 Common people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But, to return to my design, what power was it that drew those stony, oaken, and wild people into cities but flattery? For nothing else is signified by Amphion and Orpheus' harp. What was it that, when the common people of Rome were like to have destroyed all by their mutiny, reduced them to obedience? Was it a philosophical oration? Least. But a ridiculous and childish fable of the belly and the rest of the members. And as good success had Themistocles in his of the fox and hedgehog. What wise man's oration could ever have done so much with the people as Sertorius' invention of his white hind? Or his ridiculous emblem of pulling off a horse's tail hair by hair? Or as Lycurgus his example of his two whelps? 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