The only freedom supposed to be left to the masses is that of grazing on the ration of simulacra the system distributes to each individual. – Michel De Certeau

The mass never comes up to the standard of its best member, but on the contrary degrades itself to a level with the lowest. – Henry David Thoreau

The time when most of you should withdraw into yourself is when you are forced to be in a crowd. – Epicurus

Leave this hypocritical prating about the masses. Masses are rude, lame, unmade, pernicious in their demands and influence, and need not to be flattered, but to be schooled. I wish not to concede anything to them, but to tame, drill, divide, and break them up, and draw individuals out of them. – Ralph Waldo Emerson