The mass never comes up to the standard of its best member, but on the contrary degrades itself to a level with the lowest.

Summary

This quote suggests that when a group of people come together, they tend to lower their standards and adopt the behavior of the least competent or ethical member. Instead of elevating themselves to the level of the most capable or virtuous person, the majority succumbs to the influence of the lowest common denominator. It implies that the collective or mass often tends to prioritize mediocrity rather than embracing excellence.

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