--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An element of exaggeration clings to the…" description: "\"An element of exaggeration clings to the popular judgment: great vices are made greater, great virtues greater also; interesting incidents are made mor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d0/walter-bagehot-3686_character_an-element-of-exaggeration-clings-to-the_3088028.png" --- # An element of exaggeration clings to the popular judgment… ![“An element of exaggeration clings to the popular judgment: great vices are made greater, great virtues greater also; interesting incidents are made more interesting, softer legends more soft.” quote by Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d0/walter-bagehot-3686_character_an-element-of-exaggeration-clings-to-the_3088028.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d0/walter-bagehot-3686_character_an-element-of-exaggeration-clings-to-the_3088028.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d0/walter-bagehot-3686_character_an-element-of-exaggeration-clings-to-the_3088028.png) > “An element of exaggeration clings to the popular judgment: great vices are made greater, great virtues greater also; interesting incidents are made more interesting, softer legends more soft.” [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Popular judgment tends to magnify extremes, making vices seem worse and virtues seem better, while dramatizing events and softening myths. **In simple terms:** Exaggeration inflates both good and bad in public opinion. Key Takeaway Recognize and question amplified narratives. Themes perception exaggeration public opinion media bias Mood critical analytical skeptical Type observational analytical When to use this quote - political commentary - media analysis - public discourse - education - critical thinking Key Concepts cognitive bias social amplification narrative framing Questions to Reflect On - How does exaggeration shape your view of events? - What steps can you take to seek balanced information? A Different Perspective Exaggeration can obscure truth and lead to misinformed decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Exaggeration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exaggeration/) [Exaggeration Clings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exaggeration-clings-5297745/) [Great Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-vices-4185023/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [Incidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incidents/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Legends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legends/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) [Vices Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices-greater-5297744/) [Virtues Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues-greater-1443147/) ## Related quotes > [Great souls are not those who have fewer passions and more virtues than others, but only those who have greater designs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/great-souls-are-not-those-who-have-fewer-passions-and-more-virtues/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Great parts produce great vices as well as virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/great-parts-produce-great-vices-as-well-as-virtues/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Great vices are the proper objects of our detestation, smaller faults of our pity, but affectation appears to be the only true source of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/great-vices-are-the-proper-objects-of-our-detestation-smaller-faults/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [It is, I believe, no exaggeration to say that all the historical information which has been collected in the Sanskrit language is less valuable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/it-is-i-believe-no-exaggeration-to-say-that-all-the-historical/) [Thomas B. 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