# Quotes about crowd - Quotes: 27 - Authors: 20 - Broader topic: [Quotes about society](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/society.md) - Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd - JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.json ## Quotes > “Why must they always set fires?” Bheid asked Althalus as the two of them stood on the portico of the temple waiting and watching the columns of smoke rising from various quarters of the city. > > “I’m not really sure, Bheid,” Althalus confessed. “It might just be accidental. Looters are usually fairly excited, and sometimes they get careless. My best guess, though, is that the fires are being set deliberately to punish the noblemen for their bad habits.” > > “That’s pure stupidity, Althalus,” Bheid objected. > > “Of course it is. It’s the nature of mobs to be stupid. A mob’s only as clever as its stupidest member.” [David Eddings](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-eddings.md) · [The Redemption of Althalus](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-eddings/the-redemption-of-althalus.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-eddings/the-redemption-of-althalus/why-must-they.md) Topics: [stupidity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stupidity.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > “The multitude,” Cavendish says, “is always desirous of a change. They never see a great man set up but they must pull him down—for the novelty of the thing.” [Hilary Mantel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hilary-mantel.md) · [Wolf Hall](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hilary-mantel/wolf-hall.md) · p. 49 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hilary-mantel/wolf-hall/the-multitude-cavendish.md) Topics: [change](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/change.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > As I ran, I thought how I hate any kind of mob - I hate mobs of sports fans, mobs of environmental demonstrators, I even hate mobs of supermodels, that's how much I hate mobs. I tell you, mankind is bearable only when you get him on his own. [Steve Toltz](https://www.leafyquotes.com/steve-toltz.md) · [A Fraction Of The Whole](https://www.leafyquotes.com/steve-toltz/a-fraction-of-the-whole.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/steve-toltz/a-fraction-of-the-whole/as-i-ran.md) Topics: [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > At the other end of the packed carriage there was a commotion, and a small crowd formed a circle - bad news for someone. Circles of people always are. Honestly, sometimes I think human beings should be prohibited from forming groups. I'm no fascist, but I wouldn't mind at all if we had to live out our lives in single file. [Steve Toltz](https://www.leafyquotes.com/steve-toltz.md) · [A Fraction Of The Whole](https://www.leafyquotes.com/steve-toltz/a-fraction-of-the-whole.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/steve-toltz/a-fraction-of-the-whole/at-the-other.md) Topics: [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > A mob is more than the sum of individuals. It is more like a single creature with many arms and legs, hydra-headed but working with one idea. [Shamini Flint](https://www.leafyquotes.com/shamini-flint.md) · [Inspector Singh Investigates: A Curious Indian Cadaver](https://www.leafyquotes.com/shamini-flint/inspector-singh-investigates-a-curious-indian-cadaver.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/shamini-flint/inspector-singh-investigates-a-curious-indian-cadaver/a-mob-is-more.md) Topics: [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > Mobs have passions, not brains. [Dan Simmons](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dan-simmons.md) · [The Fall of Hyperion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dan-simmons/the-fall-of-hyperion.md) · p. 266 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dan-simmons/the-fall-of-hyperion/mobs-have-passions.md) Topics: [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > He could hear Pa’s voice saying, “A man’s religion, his sect, is his own affair. But those people have no religion or sect. They’re a mob, with a mob’s fear and cruelty, and with half-crazy, cunning men stirring them up against others.” [Leigh Brackett](https://www.leafyquotes.com/leigh-brackett.md) · [The Long Tomorrow](https://www.leafyquotes.com/leigh-brackett/the-long-tomorrow.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/leigh-brackett/the-long-tomorrow/he-could-hear.md) Topics: [cruelty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/cruelty.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > Nothing beautiful survives the mob. [Pierce Brown](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pierce-brown.md) · [Dark Age](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pierce-brown/dark-age.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pierce-brown/dark-age/nothing-beautiful-survives.md) Topics: [beauty](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/beauty.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > Only in couples and in little circles of companions could they support true community, the communion of mutual insight and respect and love. But in their tribes and nations they conceived all too easily the sham community of the pack, baying in unison of fear and hate. [Olaf Stapledon](https://www.leafyquotes.com/olaf-stapledon.md) · [Star Maker](https://www.leafyquotes.com/olaf-stapledon/star-maker.md) · p. 56 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/olaf-stapledon/star-maker/only-in-couples.md) Topics: [hatred](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/hatred.md), [community](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/community.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > We have a side to our character that we are generally unaware of—our social personality, the different person we become when we operate in groups of people. In the group setting, we unconsciously imitate what others are saying and doing. We think differently, more concerned with fitting in and believing what others believe. We feel different emotions, infected by the group mood. We are more prone to taking risks, to acting irrationally, because everyone else is. This social personality can come to dominate who we are. Listening so much to others and conforming our behavior to them, we slowly lose a sense of our uniqueness and the ability to think for ourselves. The only solution is to develop self-awareness and a superior understanding of the changes that occur in us in groups. With such intelligence, we can become superior social actors, able to outwardly fit in and cooperate with others on a high level, while retaining our independence and rationality. [Robert Greene](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-greene.md) · [The Laws of Human Nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-greene/the-laws-of-human-nature.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-greene/the-laws-of-human-nature/we-have-a-side.md) Topics: [conformity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/conformity.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > The most favorable moment to seize a man and influence him is when he is alone in the mass. It is at this point that propaganda can be most effective. [Jacques Ellul](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jacques-ellul.md) · [Propaganda](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jacques-ellul/propaganda.md) · p. 9 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jacques-ellul/propaganda/the-most-favorable.md) Topics: [loneliness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/loneliness.md), [propaganda](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/propaganda.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > But if technique demands the participation of everybody, this means that the individual is reduced to a few essential functions which make him a mass man. He remains 'free', but he can no longer escape being a part of the mass. Technical expansion requires the widest possible domain. In the near future not even the whole earth may be sufficient. [Jacques Ellul](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jacques-ellul.md) · [The Technological Society](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jacques-ellul/the-technological-society.md) · p. 207 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jacques-ellul/the-technological-society/but-if-technique.md) Topics: [technology](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/technology.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > Plato is correct about democracy. It is essentially mob rule. And once the mob gets an idea into its collective head, it’s almost impossible to get it out, or modify it in any way. In an era of mass communication and irresponsible media, it can be a deadly characteristic. [Jack Mcdevitt](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-mcdevitt.md) · [Odyssey](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-mcdevitt/odyssey.md) · p. 289 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-mcdevitt/odyssey/plato-is-correct.md) Topics: [media](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/media.md), [democracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/democracy.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > They were too theatrical—and there were too many of them—for all to be truly deranged. This was a fad. A way of dealing with unexpected events and giving some shape to lives that had been turned upside down. > > That didn’t mean they weren’t dangerous. A group of people all trying to impress one another was always more dangerous than the lone psychopath. [Brandon Sanderson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson.md) · [Oathbringer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson/oathbringer.md) · p. 630 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson/oathbringer/they-were-too.md) Topics: [conformity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/conformity.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > The future belongs to crowds. [Don DeLillo](https://www.leafyquotes.com/don-delillo.md) · [Mao II](https://www.leafyquotes.com/don-delillo/mao-ii.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/don-delillo/mao-ii/the-future-belongs.md) Topics: [the future](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/the-future.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > You cannot make a man by standing a sheep on its hind-legs. But by standing a whole flock of sheep in that position you can make a crowd of men. If man were not a gregarious animal, the world might have achieved, by this time, some real progress towards civilization. Segregate him, and he is no fool. But let him loose among his fellows, and he is lost —- he becomes a unit in unreason. [Max Beerbohm](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-beerbohm.md) · [Zuleika Dobson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-beerbohm/zuleika-dobson.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-beerbohm/zuleika-dobson/you-cannot-make.md) Topics: [civilization](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/civilization.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > A crowd, proportionately to its size, magnifies all that in its units pertains to the emotions, and diminishes all that in them pertains to thought. [Max Beerbohm](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-beerbohm.md) · [Zuleika Dobson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-beerbohm/zuleika-dobson.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-beerbohm/zuleika-dobson/a-crowd-proportionately.md) Topics: [thinking](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/thinking.md), [emotions](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/emotions.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > “Mobs,” Corippus said scornfully. “The bravest bastards in the world, till somebody fights back.” [Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md) · [Agent of Byzantium](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/agent-of-byzantium.md) · p. 288 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/agent-of-byzantium/mobs-corippus-said.md) Topics: [cowardice](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/cowardice.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > As riots have a way of doing, this one was rapidly outgrowing the incident that had spawned it. [Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md) · [Agent of Byzantium](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/agent-of-byzantium.md) · p. 208 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/agent-of-byzantium/as-riots-have.md) Topics: [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > Along the way, all meaning was lost except for verbal signals, the kind of signals any animal species develops in order to stay in touch with its own kind, call others to a feeding spot, or alert others to danger. Every linguist should know that language must be used to be retained, and the compilers of this report have warned that human language on Earth is also being reduced. As humans become more crowded, they become less tolerant of variety. To fit into a crowd, people must be similar, and Earth’s population today is a vat of homogeneity with only a pretense of choice remaining. One may pick model x with one curlicue or model y with three, the tasteless brown cracker or the tasteless yellow cracker, the actual difference in either case being nil. Any real choice among things of unlike value might lead to disparity, which leads to conflict. Ideas also contribute to disparity, and therefore in crowded populations ideas must be restricted to the least controversial, the least interesting. Children all receive the same grades in school. Workers all receive the same pay. Clothing is similar; Foods are identical; and with the passage of all distinctions the words for them also pass. [Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [The Margarets](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/the-margarets.md) · p. 151 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/the-margarets/along-the-way.md) Topics: [language](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/language.md), [conformity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/conformity.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > “The groups are stratified, with one or more leaders and the rest as followers. This pattern continues even today, though the acquisition of language allows such groups to be institutionalized as tribes, armies, political parties, commercial empires, religious hierarchies, or sports teams. All of these have rules requiring defense and extension of territory by carrying some play object—a ball, flag, icon, trademark, or belief system—into someone else’s territory. From the psychological point of view, there is very little difference between making religious converts, kicking the winning goal, or cornering the market on Thorbian gigarums. > > “Proper gang activity requires the control of members. Gangs cannot tolerate ‘loose’ persons wandering around. One is either with the church or against it; with the company or against it; with the team or against it.” [Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [Six Moon Dance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/six-moon-dance.md) · p. 100 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/six-moon-dance/the-groups-are.md) Topics: [conformity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/conformity.md), [community](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/community.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > Sometimes there is such crowding that there is irritation, and this makes fear or anger; and following fear comes meetings of councils to make regulations; and following regulations is further irritation at the laws that are made. [Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [Jinian Star-Eye](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/jinian-star-eye.md) · p. 37 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/jinian-star-eye/sometimes-there-is-such.md) Topics: [law](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/law.md), [bureaucracy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/bureaucracy.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > There is a kind of animal frenzy can be whipped up sometimes among fools and children, often using religion as an excuse for it. When it happens, it is wise to be elsewhere. [Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [The Flight of Mavin Manyshaped](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/the-flight-of-mavin-manyshaped.md) · p. 45 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/the-flight-of-mavin-manyshaped/there-is-a-kind.md) Topics: [religion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/religion.md), [fanaticism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fanaticism.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > A mixture of gullibility and cynicism had been an outstanding characteristic of mob mentality before it became an everyday phenomenon of masses. In an ever-changing, incomprehensible world the masses had reached the point where they would, at the same time, believe everything and nothing, think that everything is possible and that nothing was true. The mixture in itself was remarkable enough, because it spelled the end of the illusion that gullibility was a weakness of unsuspecting primitive souls and cynicism the vice of superior and refined minds. Mass propaganda discovered that its audience was ready at all times to believe the worst, no matter how absurd, and did not particularly object to being deceived because it held every statement to be a lie anyhow. The totalitarian mass leaders based their propaganda on the correct psychological assumption that, under such conditions, one could make people believe the most fantastic statements one day, and trust that if the next day they were given irrefutable proof of their falsehood, they would take refuge in cynicism; instead of deserting the leaders who had lied to them, they would protest that they had known all along the statement was a lie and would admire the leaders for their superior tactical cleverness. [Hannah Arendt](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hannah-arendt.md) · [The Origins of Totalitarianism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hannah-arendt/the-origins-of-totalitarianism.md) · p. 382 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hannah-arendt/the-origins-of-totalitarianism/a-mixture-of-gullibility.md) Topics: [propaganda](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/propaganda.md), [cynicism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/cynicism.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > Has it been found that bodies of men act with more rectitude or greater disinterestedness than individuals? The contrary of this has been inferred by all accurate observers of the conduct of mankind; and the inference is founded upon obvious reasons. Regard to reputation has a less active influence, when the infamy of a bad action is to be divided among a number than when it is to fall singly upon one. A spirit of faction, which is apt to mingle its poison in the deliberations of all bodies of men, will often hurry the persons of whom they are composed into improprieties and excesses, for which they would blush in a private capacity. [Alexander Hamilton](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alexander-hamilton.md) · [The Federalist Papers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alexander-hamilton/the-federalist-papers.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alexander-hamilton/the-federalist-papers/has-it-been.md) Topics: [responsibility](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/responsibility.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > "Under the guise of having every voice heard, you create mob rule, a filterless society where secrets are crimes." [Dave Eggers](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dave-eggers.md) · [The Circle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dave-eggers/the-circle.md) · p. 488 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/dave-eggers/the-circle/under-the-guise.md) Topics: [privacy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/privacy.md), [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md) > A crowd is not the sum of the individuals who compose it. Rather it is a species of animal, without language or real consciousness, born when they gather, dying when they depart. [Gene Wolfe](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gene-wolfe.md) · [The Shadow of the Torturer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gene-wolfe/the-shadow-of-the-torturer.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gene-wolfe/the-shadow-of-the-torturer/a-crowd-is-not.md) Topics: [crowd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/crowd.md)