Thursday, January 07, 2010

Multitude

MULTITUDE, n. A crowd; the source of political wisdom and virtue. In a republic, the object of the statesman's adoration. "In a multitude of consellors there is wisdom," saith the proverb. If many men of equal individual wisdom are wiser than any one of them, it must be that they acquire the excess of wisdom by the mere act of getting together. Whence comes it? Obviously from nowhere -- as well say that a range of mountains is higher than the single mountains composing it. A multitude is as wise as its wisest member if it obey him; if not, it is no wiser than its most foolish.

2010 Update: A mob which in scripture served either as holy chaff after a reaping or as the consumers of heavenly flour. In contemporary philosophy, the multitude performs more the role of an ear of corn.

12 comments:

TLP said...

A math function. Like 3 x 3. Or is that just arithmetics. Maybe arithmetics is a singing group. I'm getting myself confused here. Did they sing Would I Lie to You?"

Anyway, if I'm first I hope the multitudes come along soon.

Jim said...

I'll join the multitude here.

Doug, I am thinking Californians are now trying to figure out what to do with the corn you all are getting. At least you and the governor have corn on your minds. A new multitude? (I heard that Nebraska got the 'health.')
..

pia said...

multitude: if the multitudes do it do you really want to? Doesn't play as well as "everybody," but....

k. riggs gardner said...

Jim has a very good point today. It was just yesterday that Gov. Schwarzenegger gave his State of the State address:

"... California's congressional delegation should either vote against this [health care] bill that is a disaster for California or get in there and fight for the same sweetheart deal that Sen. Nelson of Nebraska got for the Cornhusker State."

Nebraska, he said, "got the corn, and we got the husk."

Anonymous said...

Multitude: Bailout and higher taxes

quilly said...

MULTITUDE n. the number of questions a 4 year old can ask in the course of an hour.

Tom & Icy said...

I often feel like an ear of corn the way so many talk at us instead of to us. Lend me your ears and I'll butter them up.

Cooper said...

I lean to the Machiavellian so your definition works.


Then again I now understand why the children of the corn was so frightening. ;)

k. riggs gardner said...

@Coop,

You are too funny at times and not the least bit macabre !!

And so honest! We are all Machiavellians in this dreary world. The children of the corn deserve to be eaten in their sleep!

Anonymous said...

corn husks
outhouses
no more
needs to be said
Bless

Ariel the Thief said...

There are things make sense only in multitude, like concerts and lynch-law.

Doug The Una said...

TLP, I just hope the multitude that follows you isn't looking for loaves and fishes. That could be awkward.

Jim, apparently Brer Schwarzenegger is a little bitter about that. New budget comes out today and I'm expecting chaff soup.

You're right, Pia. Only when mother lemmings scold, I imagine.

Karen, good reporting.

You bet, Thom. Or complaints.

Quilly, I think you underestimate them.

Well put, Icy.

Far from it, Actonbell.

Oh you do not, Cooper!

Karen, I agree with you. Cooper's funny and children are for breakfast.

Bless, Bear.

Ariel, absolutely right. Probably patent law too.