Labor and trouble one can always get through alone, but it takes two to be glad.
Henrik IbsenRead
The majority never has right on its side. Never, I say! That is one of these social lies against which an independent, intelligent men must wage war. Who is it that constitute the majority of the population in a country? Is it the clever folk, or the stupid? I don't imagine you will dispute the fact that at present the stupid people are in an absolutely overwhelming majority all the world over.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote asserts that the majority opinion is often misguided and that intelligent individuals must challenge it.
Henrik Ibsen's quote suggests that simply being part of the majority does not confer correctness or moral authority. He argues that most people in society are often less informed or wise, and it is the responsibility of independent, thoughtful individuals to oppose the false truths propagated by the majority. This reflection on societal dynamics highlights the importance of critical thinking and the courage to stand against popular opinion, advocating for individual reasoning over collective ignorance.
Themes
MajorityWisdomIndependenceIntelligenceSocietyCritique
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on critical thinking, this quote can illustrate the importance of questioning popular beliefs.
More from Henrik Ibsen
All quotes →I believe that before anything else I'm a human being -- just as much as you are... or at any rate I shall try to become one. I know quite well that most people would agree with you, Torvald, and that you have warrant for it in books; but I can't be satisfied any longer with what most people say, and with what's in books. I must think things out for myself and try to understand them.
Henrik IbsenRead
Ah, I fancy it is just the same with most of what you call your emancipation. You have read yourself into a number of new ideas and opinions. You have got a sort of smattering of recent discoveries in various fields - discoveries that seem to overthrow certain principles which have hitherto been held impregnable and unassailable. But all this has only been a matter of intellect, Miss West - superficial acquisition. It has not passed into your blood.
Henrik IbsenRead
One should never put on one's best trousers to go out to fight for freedom.
Henrik IbsenRead
It is inexcusable for scientists to torture animals; let them make their experiments on journalists and politicians.
Henrik IbsenRead
It's a liberation to know that an act of spontaneous courage is yet possible in this world. An act that has something of unconditional beauty.
Henrik IbsenRead
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