Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson
The mob is man voluntarily descending to the nature of the beast. Its fit hour of activity is night. Its actions are insane like its whole constitution. It persecutes a principle; it would whip a right; it would tar and feather justice, by inflicting fire and outrage upon the houses and persons of those who have these. It resembles the prank of boys, who run with fire-engines to put out the ruddy aurora streaming to the stars.
Summary
This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson describes the dangerous nature of a mob. Emerson asserts that when individuals form a mob, they willingly descend to an animalistic state. The mob operates mostly during the cover of darkness, committing irrational and insane actions. The mob seeks to persecute noble principles, attack basic rights, and even harm those who defend justice. Emerson compares the actions of a mob to foolish boys who try to extinguish the beautiful natural phenomena of the aurora with fire-engines. Ultimately, this quote depicts mobs as destructive forces driven by ignorance and irrationality.
Topics
Tyranny
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