It was a good thing to have a couple of thousand people all rigid and frozen together, in the palm of one's hand.
Interpretation
This quote reflects the power of influence and control over a collective group.
In this quote, Charles Dickens illustrates the paradox of having control over a large group of people who, despite being physically present, are emotionally or mentally unresponsive. It critiques the notion of authority and how individuals can sometimes feel a sense of power when they perceive they hold sway over the masses, even when that control is not truly genuine or effective.
In practice
In a speech about leadership, one might use this quote to illustrate the dynamics of power over people.
I recollected one story there was in the village, how that on a certain night in the year (it might be that very night for anything I knew), all the dead people came out of the ground and sat at the heads of their own graves till morning.
A silent look of affection and regard when all other eyes are turned coldly away-the consciousness that we possess the sympathy and affection of one being when all others have deserted us-is a hold, a stay, a comfort, in the deepest affliction, which no wealth could purchase, or power bestow.
Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts. I was better after I had cried, than before--more sorry, more aware of my own ingratitude, more gentle.
There are not a few among the disciples of charity who require, in their vocation, scarcely less excitement than the votaries of pleasure in theirs.
You might, from your appearance, be the wife of Lucifer,” said Miss Pross, in her breathing. “Nevertheless, you shall not get the better of me. I am an Englishwoman.
Christmas is a poor excuse every 25th of December to pick a man's pockets.
Those who have won the ovarian lottery by being born in an advanced society to loving parents have a special obligation to help restore the American Dream.
Nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won.
This whole universe is but a drop _x000D_ of His Beauty!
I could introduce myself properly, but it's not really necessary. You will know me well enough and soon enough, depending on a diverse range of variables. It suffices to say that at some point in time, I will be standing over you, as genially as possible. Your soul will be in my arms. A color will be perched on my shoulder. I will carry you gently away.
The provisions we have made [for our government] are such as please ourselves; they answer the substantial purposes of government and of justice, and other purposes than these should not be answered.
This is the first time in my 32 years in public broadcasting that PBS has ordered up programs for ideological instead of journalistic reasons.
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