Character Quote by Gustave Le Bon
![“To the Jacobins of this epoch [the French Revolution], as well as to those of our times, this popular entity constitutes a superior personality possessing attributes peculiar to the gods of never having to answer for their actions and never making a mistake. Their wishes must be humbly acceded to…” quote by Gustave Le Bon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eb6/gustave-le-bon-10163_character_to-the-jacobins-of-this-epoch-the-french_220492.jpg)
““To the Jacobins of this epoch [the French Revolution], as well as to those of our times, this popular entity constitutes a superior personality possessing attributes peculiar to the gods of never having to answer for their actions and never making a mistake. Their wishes must be humbly acceded to. The people may kill, burn, ravage, commit the most frightening cruelties, glorify their hero today and throw him into the gutter tomorrow, it is all the same; the politicians will not cease to vaunt the people's virtues and to bow to their every decision.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind, Gustave Le Bon, 1895
The quote critiques how masses idolize leaders without accountability, shifting praise and condemnation arbitrarily, while politicians exploit this fickleness.
In simple terms: People worship leaders without holding them responsible, and politicians manipulate this behavior.
Key Takeaway
Beware of uncritical hero worship and political manipulation.
Themes
political power
mass psychology
accountability
hero worship
Mood
cautious
critical
reflective
Type
political
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- elections
- public protests
- media coverage
- political campaigns
Key Concepts
crowd behavior
political manipulation
moral relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate genuine leadership from populist manipulation?
- What mechanisms can ensure accountability?
A Different Perspective
The perspective may overgeneralize and ignore genuine popular movements.
