Great Quote by Richard M. Nixon
“The great silent majority.”
About This Quote
Nixon’s phrase references the large, unnamed majority of the public that supports a policy or leader, often used to claim legitimacy.
In simple terms: A large, unnamed group backs the speaker.
Key Takeaway
Appealing to the ‘silent majority’ asserts popular support.
Themes
politics
public opinion
legitimacy
mass persuasion
Mood
authoritative
persuasive
Type
political
rhetorical
When to use this quote
- campaign speeches
- media analysis
- public opinion polling
Key Concepts
majority‑minority dynamics
political rhetoric
Practical Applications
- Reference the silent majority to frame policy support.
Questions to Reflect On
- How can leaders verify the existence of a ‘silent majority’?
- What are the risks of invoking an undefined majority?
A Different Perspective
The concept can mask lack of concrete evidence for actual majority opinion.
![“Now, ["silent majority"] hasn't been used in a long time because I guess it is associated somewhat with [Richard] Nixon. But honestly it's two words, that when you put together describe what is happening very well. There's a group of people, great people in this country that have been…” quote by Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/907/donald-trump-18_country_now-silent-majority-hasn-t-been-used-in_1648900.jpg)
![“I've heard the term ["silent majority"], but for the last 20 years I really haven't heard the term. But I went to a rally in Alabama, and there were 31,000 people there, you've seen it, you've read about it. And I looked and I said, this is the silent majority. Though they weren't silent, because…” quote by Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ae9/donald-trump-18_alabama_i-ve-heard-the-term-silent-majority-but_1652123.jpg)
