Jose Ortega y Gasset Quotes

The public, therefore, among a democratic people, has a singular power, which aristocratic nations cannot conceive; for it does not persuade others to its beliefs, but it imposes them and makes them permeate the thinking of everyone by a sort of enormous pressure of the mind of all upon the individual intelligence.

Public opinion, because of the tremendous urge to conformity in gregarious animals, is less tolerant than any system of law.

No written law has ever been more binding than unwritten custom supported by popular opinion.

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

Opinion has ever been stronger than law.

That cruelest of tyrants - public opinion.

Public opinion is a permeating influence, and it exacts obedience to itself; it requires us to drink other men's thoughts, to speak other men's words, to follow other men's habits.

I've always been suspicious of collective truths.

Public opinion is a second conscience.

Consensus is what many people say in chorus but do not believe as individuals.

Public opinion is stronger than the legislature, and nearly as strong as the ten commandments.

We should go just as fast and as far as public sentiment would justify.

We are ruled by public opinion, not by statute law.

The influence of every mode of thinking which is shared by numbers ought to be felt in the legislature.

… the irresistible power of concentrated public opinion

The masses, the public, is too strict.

No law is stronger than is the public sentiment where it is to be enforced.

Public opinion is the most potent monarch this world knows.

Conformity--the natural instinct to passively yield to that vague something recognized as authority.

Public sentiment should be respected.

Wonderful Force of Public Opinion! We must act and walk in all points as it prescribes; follow the traffic it bids us, realize the sum of money, the degree of influence it expects of us, or we shall be lightly esteemed; certain mouthfuls of articulate wind will be blown at us, and this what mortal courage can front?

We are discreet sheep; we wait to see how the drove is going, and then go with the drove. We have two opinions: one private, which we are afraid to express; and another one - the one we use - which we force ourselves to wear to please Mrs. Grundy, until habit makes us comfortable in it, and the custom of defending it presently makes us love it, adore it, and forget how pitifully we came by it. Look at it in politics.

It is proof of a bad cause when it is applauded by the mob.

The public, with its mob yearning to be instructed, edified and pulled by the nose, demands certainties; it must be told definitely and a bit raucously that this is true and that is false. But there are no certainties.