John Kenneth Galbraith Quotes

Better be wrong with the many than right with the few.

What the multitude says is so, or soon will be.

And that which yesterday was the novel opinion of one man, to-day becomes the general opinion of the majority. And as soon as this opinion is established, immediately by imperceptible degrees, but beyond power of frustration, the conduct of mankind begins to alter.

All the wisdom of the world consists of shouting with the majority.

It does not prove a thing to be right because the majority say it is so.

Fame or perceived success - it all comes from groupthink.

Politics is a herd mentality. Politicians don't really lead. Politicians reflect what they think is consensus opinion.

Americans are apt to be unduly interested in discovering what average opinion believes average opinion to be.

Nothing is more obstinate than a fashionable consensus.

If a million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.

The world chooses to think what the world thinks.

Everything popular is wrong.

The majority is always sane.

The multitude is always in the wrong.

Journalists, by and large, are not the irascible free thinkers of lore, going their own way without fear or favor. Corporate institutions as a rule have limited use for such people. Especially in today’s electronic environment, journalists are creatures of availability bias, to borrow a term from social science. They believe what others in their milieu believe, say what others are saying, because it’s in their interest to do so.

Popular opinion is the biggest 'filter' for most people - they don't have to try something if they've already been told it's not cool.

Singularity in the right hath ruined many; happy those who are convinced of the general opinion.

The majority have no other reason for their opinions than that they are the fashion.

Thousands of people seeing the same thing cannot all be wrong.

What is social proof? Put simply, it's the positive influence created when someone finds out that others are doing something. It's also known as informational social influence.

The majority of business people are sheeple.

I don't like it when people spout about the popular opinion just to make it louder.

Online, you're trying to appeal to everyone and people who you don't know at the same time. So I think, as a side effect, it amplifies the desire for groupthink.

We do our worst when we're surrounded by a lot of people who agree with us.

There are many people for whom 'thinking' necessarily means identifying with existing trends.