The Crowd

"This very fact that crowds possess in common
ordinary qualities explains why they can never
accomplish acts demanding a high degree of
intelligence. The decisions affecting matters of
general interest come to by an assembly of men of
distinction, but specialists in different walks
of life, are not sensibly superior to the
decisions that would be adopted by a gathering of
imbeciles. The truth is, they can only bring to
bear in common on the work in hand those mediocre
qualities which are the birthright of every
average individual. In crowds it is stupidity and
not mother-wit that is accumulated."
-- Gustave Le Bon