Democracies have Quote by John Dryden
“Nor is the people's judgment always true: the most may err as grossly as the few.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: The Medallion, John Dryden, 1685
The majority can be just as wrong as a minority; popular opinion isn’t always reliable.
In simple terms: Crowds can be mistaken.
Key Takeaway
Don’t accept popular opinion without scrutiny.
Themes
wisdom
judgment
majority vs minority
error
Mood
skeptical
inquisitive
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political decision making
- media consumption
- legal judgments
Key Concepts
Epistemology
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- When have you trusted a majority that proved wrong?
- How do you verify collective judgments?
A Different Perspective
Majority opinion may be swayed by bias or misinformation.
