Who said “The characteristic of the hour is that the commonplace mind, knowing itself to be…”?

Verified

Jose Ortega Y Gasset. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Revolt of the Masses (1929)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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“The characteristic of the hour is that the commonplace mind, knowing itself to be commonplace, has the assurance to proclaim the rights of the commonplace and to impose them wherever it will.”
VerifiedThe Revolt of the Masses (1929) · evidenceCommonplace
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Revolt of the Masses (1929).

APA

Gasset, J. O. Y. (n.d.). The characteristic of the hour is that the commonplace mind, knowing itself to be commonplace, has the assurance to proclaim the rights of the commonplace and to impose them wherever it will. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/10360-the-characteristic-of-the-hour-is-that-the/

MLA

Gasset, Jose Ortega Y. “The characteristic of the hour is that the commonplace mind, knowing itself to be commonplace, has the assurance to proclaim the rights of the commonplace and to impose them wherever it will.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/10360-the-characteristic-of-the-hour-is-that-the/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Gasset, Jose Ortega Y. “The characteristic of the hour is that the commonplace mind, knowing itself to be commonplace, has the assurance to proclaim the rights of the commonplace and to impose them wherever it will.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/10360-the-characteristic-of-the-hour-is-that-the/.