--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Taking a vote or poll is a great simple…" description: "\"Taking a vote or poll is a great simple way to take a decision, but it doesn't help a group find consensus. It actually polarizes people and highlights..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/louis-b-rosenberg-23493_decision_taking-a-vote-or-poll-is-a-great-simple_1015659.jpg" --- # Taking a vote or poll is a great simple way to take a… ![“Taking a vote or poll is a great simple way to take a decision, but it doesn't help a group find consensus. It actually polarizes people and highlights the differences between them. People end up getting entrenched in their views.” quote by Louis B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/louis-b-rosenberg-23493_decision_taking-a-vote-or-poll-is-a-great-simple_1015659.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/louis-b-rosenberg-23493_decision_taking-a-vote-or-poll-is-a-great-simple_1015659.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9e/louis-b-rosenberg-23493_decision_taking-a-vote-or-poll-is-a-great-simple_1015659.jpg) > “Taking a vote or poll is a great simple way to take a decision, but it doesn't help a group find consensus. It actually polarizes people and highlights the differences between them. People end up getting entrenched in their views.” [Louis B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-b-rosenberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Polling can quickly gauge preferences but often entrenches divisions, preventing true consensus and fostering polarization. **In simple terms:** Polls give quick answers but can divide groups. Key Takeaway Use deliberation alongside voting. Themes decision‑making group dynamics consensus polarization Mood reflective strategic Type advisory process improvement When to use this quote - team meetings - community forums - organizational planning - policy development Key Concepts social psychology participatory governance conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - What methods can complement polls to build agreement? - How can groups mitigate polarization after voting? A Different Perspective May ignore minority perspectives and deepen conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) ## Related quotes > [Can't wait for tomorrow when I get to exercise my patriotic duty as an American: Complaining about how long it's taking to VOTE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/can-t-wait-for-tomorrow-when-i-get-to-exercise-my-patriotic-duty-as/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [I don't care, really, whether the movie polarizes people, Republican, Democrat...I don't think it should. But what's more important to me is that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sarsgaard/i-don-t-care-really-whether-the-movie-polarizes-people-republican/) [Peter Sarsgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sarsgaard/) > [Any classification according to a singular identity polarizes people in a particular way, but if we take note of the fact that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/any-classification-according-to-a-singular-identity-polarizes-people/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [There is good evidence that the catastrophist framing of climate change is self-defeating because it alienates and polarizes many people. And exaggerating climate change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/there-is-good-evidence-that-the-catastrophist-framing-of-climate/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [When you're faced with a choice, you have one of three choices that you can have. You can have those with power decide. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/when-you-re-faced-with-a-choice-you-have-one-of-three-choices-that/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [If Robert Heinlein is more to your taste than George Lucas: “If you are part of a society that votes, then do so. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/if-robert-heinlein-is-more-to-your-taste-than-george-lucas-if-you-are/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [If you double count some votes, that makes other votes disenfranchised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ensign/if-you-double-count-some-votes-that-makes-other-votes-disenfranchised/) [John Ensign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ensign/) > [What is interesting in Washington, D.C., is I've never missed a vote. The veterans' committee keeps track of hearings, and I've never missed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/what-is-interesting-in-washington-d-c-is-i-ve-never-missed-a-vote-the/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Susan B. Anthony must be turning in her grave if she knew that millions of women who have the right to vote are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/susan-b-anthony-must-be-turning-in-her-grave-if-she-knew-that/) [Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/) > [You need to remind people that you vote, you matter, and that they can't succeed without your help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-need-to-remind-people-that-you-vote-you-matter-and-that-they-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [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/) > [That we have the vote means nothing. That we use it in the right way means everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-henry-hoover/that-we-have-the-vote-means-nothing-that-we-use-it-in-the-right-way/) [Lou Henry Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-henry-hoover/) ## More by Louis B. Rosenberg > [We developed a technology called artificial swarm intelligence, which is all about tapping the inherent knowledge, wisdom, intuition of groups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-b-rosenberg/we-developed-a-technology-called-artificial-swarm-intelligence-which/) [Louis B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-b-rosenberg/) > [Politicians have conflicting values but not conflicting knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-b-rosenberg/politicians-have-conflicting-values-but-not-conflicting-knowledge/) [Louis B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-b-rosenberg/) > [In computers, we do all kinds of manual manipulations. We grab and drag icons. We click on and open windows. We pull down a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-b-rosenberg/in-computers-we-do-all-kinds-of-manual-manipulations-we-grab-and-drag/) [Louis B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-b-rosenberg/) > [You have the sense of touch because you need it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-b-rosenberg/you-have-the-sense-of-touch-because-you-need-it/) [Louis B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-b-rosenberg/) > [Beyond individual intelligence, nature has also cultivated intelligence through swarms. For example, bees, birds and fish act in a more intelligent way when acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-b-rosenberg/beyond-individual-intelligence-nature-has-also-cultivated/) [Louis B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-b-rosenberg/) > [Forcing polarized groups into a swarm allows them to find the answer that most people are satisfied with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-b-rosenberg/forcing-polarized-groups-into-a-swarm-allows-them-to-find-the-answer/) [Louis B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-b-rosenberg/) > [We focus on a unique form of artificial intelligence called artificial swarm intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-b-rosenberg/we-focus-on-a-unique-form-of-artificial-intelligence-called/) [Louis B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-b-rosenberg/) > [Swarm intelligence is like a brain of brains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-b-rosenberg/swarm-intelligence-is-like-a-brain-of-brains/) [Louis B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-b-rosenberg/) > [When a species wants to tap the collective intelligence of a population, they don't take a poll; they don't take a vote. They form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-b-rosenberg/when-a-species-wants-to-tap-the-collective-intelligence-of-a/) [Louis B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-b-rosenberg/) > [Feel provides an important channel of information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-b-rosenberg/feel-provides-an-important-channel-of-information/) [Louis B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-b-rosenberg/) > [Swarms are one very simple way of keeping ourselves ahead of the machines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-b-rosenberg/swarms-are-one-very-simple-way-of-keeping-ourselves-ahead-of-the/) [Louis B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-b-rosenberg/) > [The long-term value of amplifying the intelligence of people is a lot more important than betting on sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-b-rosenberg/the-long-term-value-of-amplifying-the-intelligence-of-people-is-a-lot/) [Louis B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-b-rosenberg/) > [We take the sense of touch for granted. Think about it: Without it, you're missing one of the basic senses that enables you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-b-rosenberg/we-take-the-sense-of-touch-for-granted-think-about-it-without-it-you/) [Louis B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-b-rosenberg/) > [A swarm finds the solution people best agree upon. It optimizes collective support, whereas a poll tells us how we disagree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-b-rosenberg/a-swarm-finds-the-solution-people-best-agree-upon-it-optimizes/) [Louis B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-b-rosenberg/) > [Immersion was founded in 1993 with the mission of bringing the sense of touch to computing. Our technology, TouchSense, is embedded in computer peripheral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-b-rosenberg/immersion-was-founded-in-1993-with-the-mission-of-bringing-the-sense/) [Louis B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-b-rosenberg/) [Explore all 26 Louis B. Rosenberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-b-rosenberg/) ## More Decision quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [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/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/) [Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/) > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) [Browse all 9,145 Decision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Taking a vote or poll is a great simple way to take a decision, but it doesn't help a group find consensus. It actually polarizes people and highlights the differences between them. People end up getting entrenched in their views.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Louis B. 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