We have done with Hope and Honour. we are lost to Love and Truth, We are dropping down the ladder rung by rung; And the measure of our torment is the measure of our youth. God help us, for we knew the worst too young!
Rudyard KiplingRead
Good Lord! who can account for the fathomless folly of the public?
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the author's skepticism about public opinion and the irrationality of the masses.
Rudyard Kipling's quote captures a sense of bewilderment regarding the unpredictability and sometimes irrational nature of public sentiment. It suggests that the collective wisdom of the masses can often be overshadowed by folly and ignorance, leading to decisions or beliefs that are difficult to understand or justify. This cynicism towards public opinion invites a deeper reflection on how individuals often succumb to groupthink and how societal trends may not always align with reason or logic.
Themes
PublicFollyOpinionIrrationalitySociety
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about democracy and public voting behavior, this quote can highlight the author's skepticism about informed decision-making.
More from Rudyard Kipling
All quotes βHumble because of knowledge; mighty by sacrifice.
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Hear and attend and listen; for this is what befell and be-happened and became and was, O my Best Beloved, when the Tame animals were wild. The dog was wild, and the Horse was wild, and the Cow was wild, and the Sheep was wild, and the Pig was wild -as wild as wild could be - and they walked in the Wet Wild Woods by their wild lones. But the wildest of all the wild animals was the Cat. He walked by himself and all places were alike to him
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I keep six honest serving men.
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And when your back stops aching and your hands begin to harden, You will find yourself a partner in the Glory of the Garden.
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Savings represent much more than mere money value. They are the proof that the saver is worth something in himself. Any fool can waste; any fool can muddle; but it takes something more of a man to save and the more he saves the more of a man he makes of himself. Waste and extravagance unsettle a man's mind for every crisis; thrift, which means some form of self-restraint, steadies it.
Rudyard KiplingRead
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