--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You count snouts,” Straha said…" description: "\"You count snouts,” Straha said. “Whichever side can persuade most snouts to join it prevails. It does not have to be clever. It does not have to be wis..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/harry-turtledove-19723_being-wise_you-count-snouts-straha-said-whichever-s_1742079.jpg" --- # You count snouts,” Straha said. “Whichever side can… ![“You count snouts,” Straha said. “Whichever side can persuade most snouts to join it prevails. It does not have to be clever. It does not have to be wise. It only needs to be popular.” quote by Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/harry-turtledove-19723_being-wise_you-count-snouts-straha-said-whichever-s_1742079.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/harry-turtledove-19723_being-wise_you-count-snouts-straha-said-whichever-s_1742079.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b19/harry-turtledove-19723_being-wise_you-count-snouts-straha-said-whichever-s_1742079.jpg) > “You count snouts,” Straha said. “Whichever side can persuade most snouts to join it prevails. It does not have to be clever. It does not have to be wise. It only needs to be popular.” [Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power lies in mass appeal; cleverness or wisdom are not required for success. **In simple terms:** Popularity can win over intellect. Key Takeaway Cultivate broad support. Themes influence popularity strategy Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Political campaigns - marketing launches - social movements Key Concepts Mass persuasion social dynamics leadership Questions to Reflect On - What are the risks of valuing popularity over substance? - How can you balance appeal with integrity? A Different Perspective Relying on popularity may ignore quality or ethics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-wise/) [Clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It almost seems as though this roiling world is conspiring to test our patience at every turn. In fact, it is. With this in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-almost-seems-as-though-this-roiling-world-is-conspiring-to-test/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [License they mean when they cry Liberty; For who loves that, must first be wise and good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/license-they-mean-when-they-cry-liberty-for-who-loves-that-must-first/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [The goal of a passionate artist is to try and make a masterpiece each and every time, yet be wise enough to know you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donato-giancola/the-goal-of-a-passionate-artist-is-to-try-and-make-a-masterpiece-each/) Donato Giancola > [None of the modes by which a magistrate is appointed, popular election, the accident of the lot, or the accident of birth, affords, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/none-of-the-modes-by-which-a-magistrate-is-appointed-popular-election/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Learned we may be with another man's learning: we can only be wise with wisdom of our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/learned-we-may-be-with-another-man-s-learning-we-can-only-be-wise/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Literature provides us with experiences it would not be wise or possible to introduce into our own world and thus enlarges our understanding of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-rosenblatt/literature-provides-us-with-experiences-it-would-not-be-wise-or/) [Louise Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-rosenblatt/) > [If we are going to be wise, spiritual people prepared to meet the crises of our age, we must be a studying, learning community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-p-moreland/if-we-are-going-to-be-wise-spiritual-people-prepared-to-meet-the/) [J.P. 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It was to hate nothing and to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende/to-be-wise-was-to-be-above-joy-and-sorrow-fear-and-pity-ambition-and/) [Michael Ende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende/) > [Acknowledging foolishness is a very powerful and important experience. We could almost say that being willing to be a fool is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/acknowledging-foolishness-is-a-very-powerful-and-important-experience/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [To be smart, spend carefully. To be wise, save regularly. To be genius, give extravagantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-ingram/to-be-smart-spend-carefully-to-be-wise-save-regularly-to-be-genius/) [Chip Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-ingram/) > [It's always better to be wise than to be smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/it-s-always-better-to-be-wise-than-to-be-smart/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) ## More by Harry Turtledove > [“People you don't like are pigheaded. Your friends are stubborn, or hold to their purpose.~Victor Radcliff”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-turtledove/people-you-don-t-like-are-pigheaded-your-friends-are-stubborn-or-hold/) [Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) > [Plausible development, building from what we know about what really did go on, and a whacking good story… Surrounded by Enemies delivers on both,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-turtledove/plausible-development-building-from-what-we-know-about-what-really/) [Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) > [I learned by reading an awful lot and by writing a half a million words of stuff nobody would do anything with except wrap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-turtledove/i-learned-by-reading-an-awful-lot-and-by-writing-a-half-a-million/) [Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) > [“They were having a good time, an adventure. That was January’s dominant impression of his companions in the 509th; despite all the bitching and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-turtledove/they-were-having-a-good-time-an-adventure-that-was-january-s-dominant/) [Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) > [“He gathered enthusiasm when he thought of the goal, and not the means by which he had accomplished it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-turtledove/he-gathered-enthusiasm-when-he-thought-of-the-goal-and-not-the-means/) [Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) > [“Possum soup, all nice and thick with peanuts,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-turtledove/possum-soup-all-nice-and-thick-with-peanuts/) [Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) > [Fiction has to be plausible. All history has to do is happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-turtledove/fiction-has-to-be-plausible-all-history-has-to-do-is-happen/) [Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) > [People were as they were, not not as he wished them to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-turtledove/people-were-as-they-were-not-not-as-he-wished-them-to-be/) [Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) > [I'm a social caterpillar. I am not a social butterfly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-turtledove/i-m-a-social-caterpillar-i-am-not-a-social-butterfly/) [Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) > [“You know what Forrest had the nerve to do?” “Son of a bitch has the nerve to do damn near anything. That's what makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-turtledove/you-know-what-forrest-had-the-nerve-to-do-son-of-a-bitch-has-the/) [Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) > [I first tried a novel when I was 14. First finished one when I was 16. First started working on stuff that had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-turtledove/i-first-tried-a-novel-when-i-was-14-first-finished-one-when-i-was-16/) [Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) > [“He said, “You misunderstand. We did not kill the nuggies and the other folk hereabouts. They see us, and then they commonly die.” “Of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-turtledove/he-said-you-misunderstand-we-did-not-kill-the-nuggies-and-the-other/) [Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) > [“Caudell hadn't touched a firearm since he left the army. His hands, he discovered, still knew what to do. The smell of oil and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-turtledove/caudell-hadn-t-touched-a-firearm-since-he-left-the-army-his-hands-he/) [Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) > [“That anyone would want to be famous still mystified Colin. As TV had trained him to do, he associated the word with divorces and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-turtledove/that-anyone-would-want-to-be-famous-still-mystified-colin-as-tv-had/) [Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) > [“...all the pools are going batshit like you wouldn't believe… Batshit... It's a technical term... Fleidermausscheisse, okay?" Fleidermausscheisse? Kelly silently mouthed the word, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-turtledove/all-the-pools-are-going-batshit-like-you-wouldn-t-believe-batshit-it/) [Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) [Explore all 31 Harry Turtledove quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) ## More Being wise quotes > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [To be smart, spend carefully. To be wise, save regularly. To be genius, give extravagantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-ingram/to-be-smart-spend-carefully-to-be-wise-save-regularly-to-be-genius/) [Chip Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-ingram/) > [Acknowledging foolishness is a very powerful and important experience. We could almost say that being willing to be a fool is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/acknowledging-foolishness-is-a-very-powerful-and-important-experience/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [To be wise was to be above joy and sorrow, fear and pity, ambition and humiliation. It was to hate nothing and to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende/to-be-wise-was-to-be-above-joy-and-sorrow-fear-and-pity-ambition-and/) [Michael Ende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende/) > [Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes, And pause awhile from letters, to be wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/deign-on-the-passing-world-to-turn-thine-eyes-and-pause-awhile-from/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I feel I want to be wise with white hair in a tall library in a deep chair by a fireplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-corso/i-feel-i-want-to-be-wise-with-white-hair-in-a-tall-library-in-a-deep/) [Gregory Corso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-corso/) > [Were anyone wondering how Sen. Harry Reid intended to manage life in the minority, it took one day of the 114th Congress to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberley-strassel/were-anyone-wondering-how-sen-harry-reid-intended-to-manage-life-in/) Kimberley Strassel > [If we are going to be wise, spiritual people prepared to meet the crises of our age, we must be a studying, learning community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-p-moreland/if-we-are-going-to-be-wise-spiritual-people-prepared-to-meet-the/) [J.P. Moreland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-p-moreland/) > [Literature provides us with experiences it would not be wise or possible to introduce into our own world and thus enlarges our understanding of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-rosenblatt/literature-provides-us-with-experiences-it-would-not-be-wise-or/) [Louise Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-rosenblatt/) > [Learned we may be with another man's learning: we can only be wise with wisdom of our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/learned-we-may-be-with-another-man-s-learning-we-can-only-be-wise/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [None of the modes by which a magistrate is appointed, popular election, the accident of the lot, or the accident of birth, affords, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/none-of-the-modes-by-which-a-magistrate-is-appointed-popular-election/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [The goal of a passionate artist is to try and make a masterpiece each and every time, yet be wise enough to know you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donato-giancola/the-goal-of-a-passionate-artist-is-to-try-and-make-a-masterpiece-each/) Donato Giancola > [License they mean when they cry Liberty; For who loves that, must first be wise and good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/license-they-mean-when-they-cry-liberty-for-who-loves-that-must-first/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [It almost seems as though this roiling world is conspiring to test our patience at every turn. In fact, it is. With this in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-almost-seems-as-though-this-roiling-world-is-conspiring-to-test/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's always better to be wise than to be smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/it-s-always-better-to-be-wise-than-to-be-smart/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) [Browse all 310 Being wise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-wise/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You count snouts,” Straha said. “Whichever side can persuade most snouts to join it prevails. It does not have to be clever. It does not have to be wise. 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