The Crowd; study of the popular mind

Race and the slavery of our daily necessities are the mysterious master-causes that rule our destiny.

In each country the average opinions of those elected represent the genius of the race, and they will be found not to alter sensibly from one generation to another.

The dogma of universal suffrage possesses to-day the power the Christian dogmas formerly possessed.

The reign of crowds is the reign of committees, that is, of the leaders of crowds. A severer despotism cannot be imagined.

affirmation, repetition, prestige, and contagion.

aptitude for reasoning, the absence of the critical spirit, irritability, credulity, and simplicity

Electoral crowds-that is to say, collectivities invested with the power of electing the holders of certain functions-constitute heterogeneous crowds, but as their action is confined to a single clearly determined matter, namely, to choosing between different candidates, they present only a few of the characteristics previously described.

power of crowds is to be dreaded, but the power of certain castes is to be dreaded yet more. Crowds are open to conviction; castes never are.

The power of crowds is to be dreaded, but the power of certain castes is to be dreaded yet more. Crowds are open to conviction; castes never are.

power of crowds is to be dreaded, but the power of certain castes is to be dreaded yet more. Crowds are open to conviction; castes never are.