“The masses have never thirsted after truth. They turn aside from evidence that is not to their taste, preferring to deify error, if error seduce them. Whoever can supply them with illusions is easily their master; whoever attempts to destroy their illusions is always their victim. An individual in a crowd is a grain of sand amid other grains of sand, which the wind stirs up at will.” ― Gustave Le Bon
Gustave Le Bon emphasizes both the power of individuals who can create illusions and the gullibility of the masses in his book "The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind." He notes that the general public has little interest in the truth and is ready to ignore anything that contradicts their beliefs. Instead, they favor elevating error and embracing alluring delusions. Therefore, those who can create these illusions may simply manage and hold the masses under their control. On the other hand, individuals who make an effort to dispel these illusions frequently end up falling prey to the very people they are trying to educate. According to Le Bon, each person in a group is merely a grain of sand among other grains of sand, readily influenced by the wind of popular opinion. This emphasizes the value of critical thought and the necessity of challenging our views and presumptions, even when they are widely held.
