Quotations and Literature Forum

this is the one I really really want! Some Roman or other contrasted the dignity, nobility, and honour of men when acting as individuals, with their transformation to all manner of dishonourable behaviour once brought together as a group. I know this quote exists 'cos it was pinned up on my mate's noticeboard at his workstation for many years (we both worked for Big Blue at the time!) .....

I don't know that specific one, but here are a couple along those lines.

Insanity in individuals is something rare - but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule.
-- Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 - 1900)

You cannot make a man by standing a sheep on its hind legs. But by standing a flock of sheep in that position you can make a crowd of men.
-- Max Beerbohm

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Michael Moncur
Owner and maintainer, The Quotations Page

"There is an accumulative cruelty in a number of men, though none in particular are ill natured." Halifax

Cheers Prizzlespring, but Halifax must have pinched it - the Roman version was so much more incisive - Nostromo, wherefore art THOU on this one?

I did a bit of Web searching and found this:

Still no Romans speaking up.

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Michael Moncur
Owner and maintainer, The Quotations Page

The people are a many-headed beast.

--Horace

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Mr. Fussbudget

True wit is nature to advantage dressed,
What oft was thought, but ne'er so well expressed.

The Anchor Book of Latin Quotations tells us that Livy wrote something called "Ab Urbe condita" and that at XXIV, 25 Livy says, "Ea natura multitudinis est: aut servit humiliter, aut superbe dominatur, libertatem, quae media est, nec suscipere modice nec habere sciunt."

The translation that is offered is as follows: "Such is the nature of crowds: either they are humble and servile or arrogant and dominating. They are incapable of making moderate use of freedom, which is the middle course, or of keeping it."