Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Leave this hypocritical prating about the masses. Masses are rude, lame, unmade, pernicious in their demands and influence, and need not to be flattered, but to be schooled. I wish not to concede anything to them, but to tame, drill, divide, and break them up, and draw individuals out of them.
Summary
This quote expresses a disdainful attitude towards the masses and their behavior. It suggests that the masses are crude, ignorant, and harmful in their desires and impact. Rather than pandering to them, the quote implies that they should be educated and disciplined. The speaker rejects the idea of conceding anything to the masses but rather aims to discipline, organize, and separate them in order to draw out individuals from within their collective influence.