"Truth always rests with the minority,
and the minority is always stronger than the majority,
because the minority is generally formed
by those who really have an opinion,
while the strength of a majority is illusory,
formed by the gangs who have no opinion --
and who, therefore, in the next instant
(when it is evident that the minority is the stronger)
assume its opinion ... while Truth again reverts to a new minority."
by:
Soren Kierkegaard
(1813-1855) Danish philosopher
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Reader comments about this quote:
So true, so true.
 -- Colin Kerr, Fulton, MO     
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    If an opinion is WRONG, it's irrelevant that the minority "really have an opinion", it is still wrong. And if an opinion is RIGHT, it’s beside the point that it is formed by "gangs who have no opinion" it is still right. Right and wrong, morals, should guide our legislators, but they move the way that will put the most money in their pockets. The TRUTH of an issue is lost once the votes are cast.
     -- Joe, Rochester, MIL     
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     -- Anonymous, Reston, VA US      
    Translation: Fads reign.
     -- Terry Berg, Occidental, CA     
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    The status quo defend the status quo.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Kierkegaard has hit the nail on the head... Observe the ruminations from basically the Right on the issue Immigration... they stand together in their hatred of THOSE people INVADING our country... they won't admit it - ever, but the truth is that they cannot abide their complexion and THAT language!
     -- A.Jurgensen, Stuart, FL     
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    At least that minority is a collective beast, a monster, and a million individuals take a million swords and one beast takes a single one.
     -- Gölök Zoltán Leenderdt Franco Buday, Vancouver, GVRD(Paine Cnty), Coastal Lwr Mainland BC(State of Neo Sumer), U.S. of Eh!     
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    That Kierkegaard's thought is amazing. It shows how much people do things without thinking, just to follow the patterns. Those who don't allow others think for them are possibly the most confusing, attacked by stupid ones, but the more one knows what happens, the funnier and sadder are those, it depends of one's moment.
     -- Ruben Neyra, Mexico City     
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    Sad but true.
     -- anonymous     
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    Truth neither rests with the minority or the majority, it stands alone.Apathy does seem to enjoy a majority while history is generally written by the few.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    As Mike says, The truth stands alone. The wrongs of socialism are made self evident, with our current and past administrations, perpetuating the delusion. One mother, recently put it this way, a corporate head, when a child cries, what does it need. If the baby is not hungry, don't try to force feed the bottle. The tender mercies of socialism are cruel by nature. Opening the borders, to a welfare state brings its fall.
    This is by design, brought about by a few. Who can keep up with the cost of anything, if the bar is raised at every turn ? Emigrational overthrow, send them all home, then the power mongers will have to deal with the original labor force. Very independent lot we are. The socialist and the tax man do not like us much. We tend to hold to our Liberty and Freedom, knowing the roots thereof. A herd of cattle, can be pushed off the cliff by a few.
     -- Ronald Virgil Pittman, Yachats Oregon USA     
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    He is right about the majority and those that have an opinion but the truth is the truth it does not change. The Right has no opposition to immigration. The right opposes breaking of the law. Nor does the right hate or have ill will towards any one. The left loves illegal immigrants because they expect to get their votes. (Yes the illegals vote. Why do you thing we can't have voter ID?)
     -- Warren, olathe     
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    The truth is always there, to be discovered, to be known. We are all born into this world to figure it out for ourselves. For myself, it has been a lifelong process, and it is continuous. I don't confuse human social organization as truth, or religion as truth, or tradition or customs as truth. They are answers, yes, that people have come up with and have been handed down, but so, so often, they are but man-made structures to explain what is essentially incomprehensible to all -- and even more common, to corral people into manageable groups to 'serve' a select few.

    Life is a grand mystery still, waiting to be discovered. Kierkegaard makes a point -- as the discovery of truth is an individual becoming aware, it is not always easy to lead another to the same place -- not to mention a crowd. Our preconceived notions do indeed stand in the way of further discovery -- it is said that one must empty his cup in order to fill it. ;-)
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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