Quote
“Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority shares in it.”
— Leo Tolstoy
Written more than a century ago, this quote may be even more relevant today than when Tolstoy first wrote it.
To me, Tolstoy is expressing the importance of critical thinking in an increasingly polarized world. When an idea is embraced by a large group, it becomes easy to assume it must be correct. The pressure to conform can be powerful. Yet Tolstoy reminds us that truth and morality are not determined by popularity. If something is wrong, it remains wrong regardless of how many people support it.
This idea immediately brought to mind Anne Applebaum’s Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism. In the book, Applebaum explores how political and social polarization have deepened in recent decades. As societies become more divided, people often gravitate toward groups that reinforce their existing beliefs and identities. The result is that loyalty to a group can sometimes become more important than a commitment to facts or truth.
Applebaum also examines how modern technology, social media, and targeted messaging amplify these divisions. Information can be tailored to specific audiences, creating echo chambers where beliefs are constantly reinforced and opposing viewpoints are rarely considered. In such an environment, it becomes increasingly difficult to separate what is true from what is simply popular within a particular group.
That is why Tolstoy’s words continue to resonate. They challenge us to look beyond the crowd, beyond the slogans, and beyond the comfort of belonging to a side. They remind us that our responsibility is not to agree with the majority, but to think critically and judge ideas on their own merits.
Perhaps the lesson from both Tolstoy and Applebaum is that polarization becomes most dangerous when it discourages independent thought. A healthy society depends on people who are willing to question their own assumptions, examine evidence honestly, and follow the truth wherever it leads.
After all, if something is wrong, it does not become right because millions of people believe it.
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