Quote by Elias Canetti: “The crowd wants equality and justice, but it wants it for itself, not for others.”

Canetti exposes a core hypocrisy in crowd psychology, revealing that while masses may demand fairness, their motivation often stems from self-interest rather than universal principles. This insight highlights the tribalistic and often exclusive nature of collective desire for justice.

From *Crowds and Power*, a seminal work analyzing mass phenomena. This quote reflects his critical perspective on collective behavior and the dangers of unchecked group dynamics, written in the aftermath of totalitarian regimes.

Bulgarian-born writer who lived most of his life in Vienna, Zurich, and London and wrote in German. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1981. His major work Crowds and Power is a sweeping analysis of the psychology of mass movements, and his autobiography The Tongue Set Free is a memoir of rare richness and precision.