I have heard multiple Rabbis say, mostly in the name of HaRaMBa"M, that the truth is not dependent on the number of adherents to a particular opinion. I apologize for lack of accuracy.
What is the source for such a statement?
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1Possible duplicate judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/5458– Double AA ♦Jul 30, 2017 at 1:47
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Interesting to find this Q just now. I just learned in Pirkei Avot 3 the mishnah that says that "If you are liked by people, you are liked by G-d" (paraphrasing). And, last week, in Matot Moshe tells Gad & Reuven that they if they fight with their brothers, they wil lbe deemed innocent before G-d and Israel. I.e., you have to appear innocent before fellow people. However, note that the priority is G-d first. I.e., first you have to do the right thing before G-d, even if that is unpopular. Only then, can you try to achieve popularity.– DanFJul 30, 2017 at 2:23
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1Similarly, note Rambam's introduction to MN: when I find the road narrow, and can see no other way of teaching a well established truth except by pleasing one intelligent man and displeasing ten thousand fools — I prefer to address myself to the one man, and to take no notice whatever of the condemnation of the multitud– mevaqeshJul 30, 2017 at 2:53
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1Possible duplicate of ישמע את האמת ממי שאמרה– DonielFJul 30, 2017 at 4:57
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1Please see my answer below which makes clear that this question is not a dupe.– LeeJul 30, 2017 at 16:14
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1 Answer
Thanks to Google, YouTube (please see only the video description - I cannot vouch for the video's actual content) and finally Chabad.org, I found the original statement in Moreh Nevukhim 2:151:
כל דבר שהוכח, לא תוסיף אמתתו ולא יתחזק הנכון שבו בהסכמת כל העולם עליו, ולא תגרע אמתתו ולא יחלש הנכון שבו אם יחלקו כל אנשי הארץ עליו
Anything proven true does not become more true by virtue of the fact that the entire world agrees with it, nor less so even if the whole world disagrees with it.
1. Hebrew taken from R' Yosef Qafih's Moreh Nevukhim translation; English taken from Chabad.org article cited.
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Great! Truer words have never been spoken. And, trust me ... despite my reputation on this site, I'm quite UNpopular ;-) Though, Ramba"m doesn't need my approval.– DanFJul 30, 2017 at 23:24