Democracy Quote by Henrik Ibsen
“The majority is never right. Never, I tell you! That's one of these lies in society that no free and intelligent man can help rebelling against. Who are the people that make up the biggest proportion of the population -- the intelligent ones or the fools?”
About This Quote
It argues that majority opinion is unreliable, urging critical individuals to question societal norms and recognize that intelligence often opposes popular consensus.
In simple terms: Majority can be misleading.
Intelligent dissent challenges mass opinion.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- education curricula
- media analysis
Key Concepts
Practical Applications
- critical thinking courses
- public policy critique
Questions to Reflect On
- When does majority consensus become trustworthy?
- What mechanisms protect against collective error?
Some argue that collective wisdom can correct individual bias, suggesting majority views sometimes reflect broader experiential knowledge.