“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.”
Cite this quote
APA
Emerson, R. W. (n.d.). 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. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16941-leave-this-hypocritical-prating-about-the-masses-masses/
MLA
Emerson, Ralph Waldo. “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.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16941-leave-this-hypocritical-prating-about-the-masses-masses/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.
Chicago
Emerson, Ralph Waldo. “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.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16941-leave-this-hypocritical-prating-about-the-masses-masses/.