Mass Panic Quotes

They formed up in marching order, whilst at their lead rushed a man … shouting wildly, ‘Fall in and follow me’ …. As the crowd continued to advance an order was given: ‘Draw-Ready-Charge!’ Men in the crowd went down like ninepins, and the rest fled helter skelter. Constables wearing bandoliers filled with bullets and with rifles at the ready were jumping out of caged cars…. Batons were useless and the police were compelled to fire.

Masses are always breeding grounds of psychic epidemics.

The crowd which assembled to witness this execution was unparalleled, being, according to the best calculation, nearly forty thousand; and the fatal catastrophe which happened in consequence will for long cause the day to be remembered. By eight o’clock not an inch of ground was unoccupied in view of the platform. The pressure of the crowd was such that, before the malefactors appeared, numbers of persons were crying out in vain to escape from it; the attempt only tended to increase the confusion. Several females of low stature who had been so imprudent as to venture among the mob were in a dismal situation; their cries were dreadful. Some who could be no longer supported by the men were suffered to fall and were trampled to death. This also was the case with several men and boys. In all parts there were continued cries ... particularly from the females and children among the spectators, some of whom were seen expiring without the possibility of obtaining the least assistance, everyone being employed in endeavours to preserve his own life.

If vampires and werewolves were walking around today, there would be chaos. People would be losing their minds.

If a terrorist group wanted to hit Britain, all they'd have to do is kill 100 random celebrities. The country would have a nervous breakown.

Other cars on the highway driven by believers will suddenly be out of control and stark pandemonium will occur on... every highway in the world where Christians are caught away from the drivers wheel.

I'm afraid Japanese people tend to collective hysteria.

I once saw a photograph of a large herd of wild elephants in Central Africa Seeing an airplane for the first time, and all in a state of wild collective terror... As, however, there were no journalists among them, the terror died down when the airplane was out of sight.

I remember when I realised, as a child, 'That stuff on the TV about nuclear bombs is real! Why isn't everyone running around shouting 'Aaarrgghh'? Why are people still buying bicycle clips?'

Tis surprising to see how rapidly a panic will sometimes run through a country. All nations and ages have been subject to them

The last place you want to be is the UN building at 5 PM. You are endangered by the mass of people running out.

Fear is hugely contagious. Used skillfully by politicians looking to manipulate voters, it can become toxic and capable of infecting more than just a few.