“The vulgar crowd always is taken by appearances, and the world consists chiefly of the vulgar”
— Niccolo Machiavelli
Simplified Meaning:
People often judge things based on how they look rather than what they truly are. Many don't take the time to dig deeper to understand the true nature of something or someone. For example, in history, there have been leaders who seemed strong and capable, but they were actually selfish and harmful. Yet, people still followed them just because of their confident appearances. This quote suggests that most people fall for these surface-level impressions. In our everyday lives, we can avoid this mistake by making an effort to learn more about people and situations before forming opinions. Instead of just going with the crowd, try to be thoughtful and considerate, looking beyond just what you see at first glance.
Related tags
Appearance vs reality Crowd psychology Human behavior Human nature Niccolò machiavelli Perception Philosophy Society SuperficialityFEATURED QUOTES