--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That cruelest of tyrants - public opinion." description: "\"That cruelest of tyrants - public opinion.\" — H. P. Blavatsky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c4/h-p-blavatsky-9600_opinion_that-cruelest-of-tyrants-public-opinion_970414.jpg" --- # That cruelest of tyrants - public opinion. ![“That cruelest of tyrants - public opinion.” quote by H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c4/h-p-blavatsky-9600_opinion_that-cruelest-of-tyrants-public-opinion_970414.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c4/h-p-blavatsky-9600_opinion_that-cruelest-of-tyrants-public-opinion_970414.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c4/h-p-blavatsky-9600_opinion_that-cruelest-of-tyrants-public-opinion_970414.jpg) > “That cruelest of tyrants - public opinion.” [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Public opinion can be the most merciless oppressor. **In simple terms:** Public opinion can be cruel. Key Takeaway Cultivate critical thinking, not just conformity. Themes society opinion power Mood cautious reflective Type philosophical social When to use this quote - journalists - politicians - activists - citizens Key Concepts psychology sociology media studies Questions to Reflect On - How do we protect individuals from mob mentality? - When has public opinion been a force for good? A Different Perspective Public opinion can also drive positive change when informed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cruelest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruelest/) [Cruelest Tyrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruelest-tyrants-1859410/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Public opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-opinion/) [Tyrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyrants/) [Tyrants Public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyrants-public-1859411/) ## Related quotes > [Common tyrants, and public oppressors, are not intitled to obedience from their subjects, by virtue of any thing here laid down by the inspired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-mayhew/common-tyrants-and-public-oppressors-are-not-intitled-to-obedience/) [Jonathan Mayhew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-mayhew/) > [“No one is an unjust villain in his own mind. Even - perhaps even especially - those who are the worst of us. Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/no-one-is-an-unjust-villain-in-his-own-mind-even-perhaps-even/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [We live in an age of prejudice, dissimulation and paradox, wherein, like dry leaves caught in a whirlpool, some of us are tossed helpless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/we-live-in-an-age-of-prejudice-dissimulation-and-paradox-wherein-like/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [See how he cowers and sneaks, how vaguely all the day he fears, not being immortal nor divine, but the slave and prisoner of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/see-how-he-cowers-and-sneaks-how-vaguely-all-the-day-he-fears-not/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Public opinion, - a tyrant, sitting in the dark, wrapt up in mystification and vague terrors of obscurity; deriving power no one knows from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-martineau/public-opinion-a-tyrant-sitting-in-the-dark-wrapt-up-in-mystification/) [Harriet Martineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-martineau/) > [Public opinion is a weak tyrant compared with our own private opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/public-opinion-is-a-weak-tyrant-compared-with-our-own-private-opinion-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Spiritualism is but a baby now, an unwelcome stranger, whom public opinion, like an unnatural foster mother, tries to crush out of existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/spiritualism-is-but-a-baby-now-an-unwelcome-stranger-whom-public/) [H. 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Blavatsky > [We live in an age of prejudice, dissimulation and paradox, wherein, like dry leaves caught in a whirlpool, some of us are tossed helpless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/we-live-in-an-age-of-prejudice-dissimulation-and-paradox-wherein-like/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [The more thou dost advance, the more thy feet pitfalls will meet. The Path that leadeth on is lighted by one fire - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/the-more-thou-dost-advance-the-more-thy-feet-pitfalls-will-meet-the/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > ["True science has no belief," says Dr. Fenwick, in Bulwer-Lytton's 'Strange Story;' "true science knows but three states of mind: denial, conviction, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/true-science-has-no-belief-says-dr-fenwick-in-bulwer-lytton-s-strange/) [H. P. 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Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [Nothing of that which is conducive to help man, collectively or individually, to live not "happily" but less unhappily in this world, ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/nothing-of-that-which-is-conducive-to-help-man-collectively-or/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [Patience leads to power; but eagerness in greed leads to loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/patience-leads-to-power-but-eagerness-in-greed-leads-to-loss/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [Whatever plane our consciousness may be acting in, both we and the things belonging to that plane are, for the time being, our only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/whatever-plane-our-consciousness-may-be-acting-in-both-we-and-the/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [Matter is spirit at its lowest level. Spirit is matter at its highest level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/matter-is-spirit-at-its-lowest-level-spirit-is-matter-at-its-highest/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [The mind is the slayer of the real, let the disciples slay the slayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/the-mind-is-the-slayer-of-the-real-let-the-disciples-slay-the-slayer/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [The exercise of magical power is the exercise of natural powers, but superior to the ordinary functions of Nature. A miracle is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/the-exercise-of-magical-power-is-the-exercise-of-natural-powers-but/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) [Explore all 71 H. P. Blavatsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) ## More Cruelest quotes > [Failing to differentiate among employees — and holding on to bottom-tier performers — is actually the cruelest form of management there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/failing-to-differentiate-among-employees-and-holding-on-to-bottom/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [It is a fact of big cities that one girl's darkest how is always another's moment of shining triumph, and New York is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-godbersen/it-is-a-fact-of-big-cities-that-one-girl-s-darkest-how-is-always/) [Anna Godbersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-godbersen/) > [“So many mistakes. So many errors. So much tragedy as a result. 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