Clever Quote by Henrik Ibsen
“The majority never has right on its side. Never, I say! That is one of these social lies against which an independent, intelligent men must wage war. Who is it that constitute the majority of the population in a country? Is it the clever folk, or the stupid? I don't imagine you will dispute the fact that at present the stupid people are in an absolutely overwhelming majority all the world over.”
About This Quote
Source Play: An Enemy of the People, 1882
The quote warns that the majority can be misled and that intelligent individuals must challenge popular falsehoods.
In simple terms: Majority can be wrong; think critically.
Key Takeaway
Question popular opinion.
Themes
politics
society
critical thinking
Mood
skeptical
defiant
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- public policy debates
- media consumption
- education reform
- activism
- leadership
Key Concepts
mass psychology
democratic fallacy
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you discern truth from majority opinion?
- When should you oppose popular belief?
A Different Perspective
Majorities can also be sources of wisdom; not all are misguided.
![“We [women] are the majority of the population, majority of the electorate, majority of the workforce... and yet we're still doing majority of family unpaid or low paid labor. And we live longer. Our stuff is not "special interest" stuff. Our stuff is the stuff of the future, of the whole.” quote by Ai-jen Poo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/298/ai-jen-poo-41457_electorate_we-women-are-the-majority-of-the-populat_1989284.jpg)
![“There was another reason [she] took her books whenever they went away. They were her home when she was somewhere strange. They were familiar voices, friends that never quarreled with her, clever, powerful friends -- daring and knowledgeable, tried and tested adventurers who had traveled far and…” quote by Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/639/cornelia-funke-908_adventurer_there-was-another-reason-she-took-her-bo_3074.jpg)
