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Literary notes about Unanimity (AI summary)

The term “unanimity” in literature has been used in a variety of contexts to denote everything from idealized social cohesion to the dangers of conformity. Philosophers such as Aristotle [1] and Rousseau [2][3] often invoke unanimity as an aspirational state—a collective harmony reflecting the general will—while thinkers like Santayana [4][5][6][7][8] explore its role in rational ethics and the uniformity of thought. At times, unanimity takes on a more critical flavor: in political and social commentary, it may signify a disconcerting totality of opinion that suppresses individual dissent, as seen in discussions about public discontent or authoritative control [9][10]. Even in fiction, the word is versatile, being used to personify rigid collectivism in works like Ayn Rand’s Anthem [11][12] or to capture the exuberance of communal celebration in passages by Scadding and Dickens [13][14]. Across scientific discourse [15][16][17] and even in poetic or metaphorical expressions [18][19][20], unanimity emerges as a multi-dimensional concept, reflecting both the ideal of absolute agreement and the potential perils of such conformity.
  1. I mean, Unanimity is somewhat like to Friendship, and this they certainly aim at and specially drive out faction as being inimical.
    — from The Ethics of Aristotle by Aristotle
  2. First, the more grave and important the questions discussed, the nearer should the opinion that is to prevail approach unanimity.
    — from The Social Contract & Discourses by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
  3. The more concert reigns in the assemblies, that is, the nearer opinion approaches unanimity, the greater is the dominance of the general will.
    — from The Social Contract & Discourses by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
  4. Unanimity in thought involves identity of functions and similarity in organs.
    — from The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress by George Santayana
  5. For if human nature were not one, there would be no propriety in requiring all men to preserve unanimity in faith or conformity in conduct.
    — from The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress by George Santayana
  6. The range of rational ethics is limited to the intermediate political zone, in which existences have attained some degree of natural unanimity.
    — from The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress by George Santayana
  7. Language is an artificial means of establishing unanimity and transferring thought from one mind to another.
    — from The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress by George Santayana
  8. In proportion to their inbred unanimity these will cultivate a similar ideal and rejoice together in its embodiment.
    — from The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress by George Santayana
  9. No fact is more significant of the utter rottenness of the Spanish rule than the unanimity of the people in their discontent.
    — from Lineage, Life and Labors of José Rizal, Philippine Patriot by Austin Craig
  10. Now the penalty inflicted as an expiation is only a manifestation of the public anger, the material proof of its unanimity.
    — from The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life by Émile Durkheim
  11. "No, they shall be lashed," said Unanimity 7-3304, "till there is nothing left under the lashes.
    — from Anthem by Ayn Rand
  12. " "This would wreck the Plans of the World Council," said Unanimity 2-9913, "and without the Plans of the World Council the sun cannot rise.
    — from Anthem by Ayn Rand
  13. Never was such unanimity!
    — from Toronto of Old by Henry Scadding
  14. Wonderful party, wonderful games, wonderful unanimity, won-der-ful happiness!
    — from A Christmas Carol in Prose; Being a Ghost Story of Christmas by Charles Dickens
  15. In your opinion, was the situation in which language arose one of unanimity or diversity of attitude?
    — from Introduction to the Science of Sociology by E. W. Burgess and Robert Ezra Park
  16. To establish the unanimity of such various data, or to find out whether they have such unanimity, is not easy.
    — from Criminal Psychology: A Manual for Judges, Practitioners, and Students by Hans Gross
  17. The research upon acclimatization is considerable, although there is far from unanimity of opinion in regard to its findings.
    — from Introduction to the Science of Sociology by E. W. Burgess and Robert Ezra Park
  18. Someone burst into a roar of laughter, then gave a whistle; the dogs barked with even more noise and unanimity.
    — from Project Gutenberg Compilation of Short Stories by Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
  19. Unanimity Phlox.
    — from Language of Flowers by Kate Greenaway
  20. Phlox Unanimity.
    — from Language of Flowers by Kate Greenaway

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