--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe people think as a group more…" description: "\"I believe people think as a group more often than we might realize or care to admit. We like to believe that we act as individuals and nothing more, bu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a59/joshua-ferris-4070_believe_i-believe-people-think-as-a-group-more-o_2719132.jpg" --- # I believe people think as a group more often than we might… ![“I believe people think as a group more often than we might realize or care to admit. We like to believe that we act as individuals and nothing more, but time and again - in corporations and business, in politics and religion, in fashion and culture, and in friendships and social circles - we think…” quote by Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a59/joshua-ferris-4070_believe_i-believe-people-think-as-a-group-more-o_2719132.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a59/joshua-ferris-4070_believe_i-believe-people-think-as-a-group-more-o_2719132.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a59/joshua-ferris-4070_believe_i-believe-people-think-as-a-group-more-o_2719132.jpg) > “I believe people think as a group more often than we might realize or care to admit. We like to believe that we act as individuals and nothing more, but time and again - in corporations and business, in politics and religion, in fashion and culture, and in friendships and social circles - we think and do as one.” [Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often act as a collective, even when they think they’re independent. **In simple terms:** We’re influenced by groups more than we admit. Key Takeaway Recognize and question group influences. Themes psychology social dynamics identity Mood reflective analytical Type sociological observational When to use this quote - workplace decisions - political movements - fashion trends Key Concepts conformity collective behavior Questions to Reflect On - Do you notice when you follow the crowd? - How does groupthink affect your choices? A Different Perspective Group pressure can suppress individuality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Circles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circles/) [Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics And Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics-and-religion/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion and politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-and-politics/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Social Circle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-circle/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I think with any group, you have to learn how to win together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-huerter/i-think-with-any-group-you-have-to-learn-how-to-win-together/) [Kevin Huerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-huerter/) > [When you have friends that are Muslim, Jewish, gay, from any marginalized group, you realize that they are so much more than this esoteric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/when-you-have-friends-that-are-muslim-jewish-gay-from-any/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) > [I was born and grew up in the Deep South, and I must say it wasn't easy for me. I always marched to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/i-was-born-and-grew-up-in-the-deep-south-and-i-must-say-it-wasn-t/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [Error held as truth has much the effect of truth. In politics and religion this fact upsets many confident predictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-iles/error-held-as-truth-has-much-the-effect-of-truth-in-politics-and/) [George Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-iles/) > [The opinions that are held with passion are always those for which no good ground exists; indeed the passion is the measure of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-opinions-that-are-held-with-passion-are-always-those-for-which-no/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/the-righteous-mind-why-good-people-are-divided-by-politics-and/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [Keep Darwinian thinking out of cosmology, out of psychology, out of human culture, out of ethics, politics, and religion!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/keep-darwinian-thinking-out-of-cosmology-out-of-psychology-out-of/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [Passive resistance seeks to rejoin politics and religion and to test all our actions in the light of ethical principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/passive-resistance-seeks-to-rejoin-politics-and-religion-and-to-test/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [politics and religion in the United States work like the twin grips of a pair of pliers on a critical mass of the masses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/politics-and-religion-in-the-united-states-work-like-the-twin-grips/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [ I was known to spout off about \[ politics and religion\] sometimes, especially in my drinkin' days! It was pretty dangerous actually. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/i-was-known-to-spout-off-about-politics-and-religion-sometimes/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [Adherents of the new religious right reject the separation of politics and religion, but they bring no spiritual insights to politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lasch/adherents-of-the-new-religious-right-reject-the-separation-of/) [Christopher Lasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lasch/) > [Sports, politics, and religion are the three passions of the badly educated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-gass/sports-politics-and-religion-are-the-three-passions-of-the-badly/) [William H. Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-gass/) > [When politics and religion are intermingled, a people is suffused with a sense of invulnerability, and gathering speed in their forward charge, they fail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/when-politics-and-religion-are-intermingled-a-people-is-suffused-with/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [As a species we're fundamentally insane. Put more than two of us in a room, we pick sides and start dreaming up reasons to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/as-a-species-we-re-fundamentally-insane-put-more-than-two-of-us-in-a/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Politics and religion are topics that people tend to stay away from in their conversations, because they're polarising. But they are important topics, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lindland/politics-and-religion-are-topics-that-people-tend-to-stay-away-from/) Matt Lindland ## More by Joshua Ferris > [“Using a wide variety of media, we could demonstrate for our fellow Americans their anxieties, desires, insufficiencies, and frustrations--and how to assuage them all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/using-a-wide-variety-of-media-we-could-demonstrate-for-our-fellow/) [Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) > [If someone were plucked from the group and given those responsibilities, they might find themselves growing more aloof, just by virtue of that promotion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/if-someone-were-plucked-from-the-group-and-given-those/) [Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) > [“I was already at one remove before the Internet came along. I need another remove? 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It's the only way I know of not being constantly reminded of all the ways I'm alienated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/of-course-i-alienate-myself-from-society-it-s-the-only-way-i-know-of/) [Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) > [“That was the last time she was allowed back at the Bennigan's. From then on, she started drinking at the T.G.I. Friday's.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/that-was-the-last-time-she-was-allowed-back-at-the-bennigan-s-from/) [Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) > [I've always thought things were absurd. It would take a lot more effort for me to see things as reasonable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/i-ve-always-thought-things-were-absurd-it-would-take-a-lot-more/) [Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) > [“...she had the conviction of the newly converted, which wouldn't last forever, but would for the moment brook no discouragement or allow for second-guessing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/she-had-the-conviction-of-the-newly-converted-which-wouldn-t-last/) [Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) > [“I swore never to use the emoticon ever… until one day, offhandedly and without much thought, I used my first :) and, shortly thereafter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/i-swore-never-to-use-the-emoticon-ever-until-one-day-offhandedly-and/) [Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) > [I think one of the ways you avoid being angry is to avoid being angry at the people in power. They might do crappy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/i-think-one-of-the-ways-you-avoid-being-angry-is-to-avoid-being-angry/) [Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) > [“Without monstrous distortions, I was slowly learning, without lies and hypocrisy, one cannot have the idealized American life I so longed for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/without-monstrous-distortions-i-was-slowly-learning-without-lies-and/) [Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) [Explore all 114 Joshua Ferris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. 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He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe people think as a group more often than we might realize or care to admit. 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