# Could someone please identify the origins of this phrase? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 20, 2003, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-please-identify-the-origins-of-this-phrase/189718 "2003-07-20T07:56:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2003, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-please-identify-the-origins-of-this-phrase/189718/1 "2003-07-20T07:56:04Z")
“The masses are asses.” Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2003, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-please-identify-the-origins-of-this-phrase/189718/2 "2003-07-20T08:00:22Z")
I did a search on “masses” for all forums, any date and didn’t find this answer, nor was Google too helpful, so I did do my homework. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2003, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-please-identify-the-origins-of-this-phrase/189718/3 "2003-07-20T09:32:05Z")
Seems to be Alexander Hamilton who’s been given the credit. From [here:](http://www.kadam.org.il/articles3.htm) > [@](#): > > What Alexander Hamilton said in his day (“the masses are asses”) was a mere echo of a famous Yiddish folk saying, “der oylem iz a goylem”. The golem, one recalls, is that brutish being incapable of independent thought, and keyed to the will of its master. Alas, the more things change, the less anything in the Jewish world does. The OYLEM, the Jewish audience, remains a GOYLEM… ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2003, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-please-identify-the-origins-of-this-phrase/189718/4 "2003-07-20T23:01:53Z")
**Meir Kahane** attributes that to Hamilton? Pul-l-l-eze find me another cite that is reputable. I call Bullshit unless you can give me a source that ain’t from a a loon. ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-please-identify-the-origins-of-this-phrase/189718/5 "2003-07-20T23:45:28Z")
According to this site [http://www.americanpolitics.com/20010626MacArthurAiles.html](http://www.americanpolitics.com/20010626MacArthurAiles.html) it would appear that John Locke is the originator. ---
**Author:** ![HaDaR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/47e85d/32.png) [@HaDaR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HaDaR)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-please-identify-the-origins-of-this-phrase/189718/6 "2013-05-15T18:31:43Z")
Actually, **Rabbi Meir Kahane** , who among other titles had degrees in Law and International Law, **WAS RIGHT ONCE AGAIN**. It was **Alexander Hamilton** who **made the sentence famous** using it **during the Framers’ discourse on the electoral college**. See, among others, this easy textbook that can be understood even by those who did not understand what Rav Kahane was saying: > **[Understanding the Constitution](https://books.google.it/books?id=N7PWfBa9J_QC&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=The%2Bmasses%2Bare%2Basses%2Bhamilton&source=bl&ots=6vADWVrDVL&sig=VXCKXFuVHohrdatcbOEKtHmRliE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=29GTUby7BuiJ4AT7t4C4Aw&redir_esc=y)** > > Although the constitution was created in 1787, its historical importance and value continue to significantly impact lives every day. "Understanding the Constitution" brings readers to an understanding and appreciation of the United States... ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-please-identify-the-origins-of-this-phrase/189718/7 "2013-05-15T19:14:33Z")
Yes, that book does say it was Hamilton. The problem is that almost nobody else does so. Nor does that book provide any clues to where Hamilton originally said it. Barry Popik, one of the most respected names in the word origin game, has an [entry in progress](http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/the_masses_are_asses/) on “the masses are asses” and the earliest citation he’s found is 1869. Until the actual quote is found in Hamilton’s writing, I’m sticking with the statement that it’s merely another of a million quotes that are wrongly attributed to a famous name. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-someone-please-identify-the-origins-of-this-phrase/189718/8 "2013-05-15T21:52:55Z")
I had no idea Alexander Hamilton was Jewish. Did he change his name from Hamilstein? (kidding)