what does this quote mean:
never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups
please help!
Stupid people in large groups often do incredibly stupid things.
Think of Nazis, ISIS, Ku Klux Klan, -- and sometimes teenagers.
so what exactly does the quote mean exactly? i'm sort of lost
Large groups have more power than individuals or small groups just by sheer numbers. There's another way to look at it, too, and that is that large or small groups can fall victim to "group think," where the loudest or most emotionally satisfying answer is taken on by everyone, even if it's demonstrably wrong. Stupid people can get a whole crowd going so that otherwise intelligent people adopt stupid ideas.
The quote "Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups" is often attributed to late comedian George Carlin. This quote is a satirical observation about human behavior and the influence that a large group of people can have, particularly when they make unwise or foolish choices.
To understand the meaning, it's helpful to break down the quote into its parts:
1. "Never underestimate": This implies that one should not overlook or neglect the significance or impact of something.
2. "the power of stupid people": This refers to individuals who may lack intelligence or make foolish decisions.
3. "in large groups": This highlights that when these individuals gather together in sizable numbers, their decision-making abilities, whether misguided or irrational, can be magnified and have a noticeable effect.
Essentially, the quote serves as a humorous commentary suggesting that when unintelligent or foolish people unite in large numbers, their collective influence can be surprisingly potent or impactful. It hints at how the behavior or choices made by a mass of people, even if seemingly nonsensical or inexplicable, can still hold sway and bring about consequences.