Community Quote by Oscar Wilde
“Public Opinion... an attempt to organize the ignorance of the community, and to elevate it to the dignity of physical force.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Soul of Man under Socialism, 1891
Society tries to shape collective ignorance into organized power, often masking oppression as legitimacy.
In simple terms: Society manipulates ignorance into force.
Key Takeaway
Question authority and the use of collective power.
Themes
politics
power
ignorance
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political activism
- media literacy
- education reform
Key Concepts
social control
mass persuasion
legitimacy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does collective ignorance become power?
- Can true dignity arise from forced conformity?
A Different Perspective
The view may overlook individual agency and dissent.
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