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Leadership Quote by Nathaniel Hawthorne

“The influential classes, and those who take upon themselves to be leaders of the people, are fully liable to all the passionate error that has ever characterized the maddest mob.” quote by Nathaniel Hawthorne
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““The influential classes, and those who take upon themselves to be leaders of the people, are fully liable to all the passionate error that has ever characterized the maddest mob.””

Nathaniel Hawthorne

About This Quote

Source Novel: The Scarlet Letter, 1850

Leaders who claim moral authority are prone to the same irrational passions as the masses they lead.

In simple terms: Leaders can be as irrational as the mob.

Key Takeaway

Beware of unchecked authority.

Themes

leadership mob mentality irrationality

Mood

cautionary critical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • political campaigns
  • corporate governance
  • social movements
  • community organizing

Key Concepts

political theory social psychology history

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you assess a leader’s rationality?
  • What safeguards prevent collective error?
A Different Perspective

Idealizing leaders can blind us to their flaws.

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