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Literary notes about preponderance (AI summary)

In literature the term "preponderance" is often used to denote a dominance or overwhelming majority—whether of evidence, influence, or physical force. Its usage spans historical narratives, philosophical discussions, and sociological analyses, underscoring an element’s weight relative to others. At times it emphasizes the surfeit of political or military power [1, 2, 3] and, in other instances, it draws our attention to the predominance of ideas, emotions, or even evidence in a legal context [4, 5, 6]. Authors deploy the term to signal that one quality, force, or argument outweighs another, shaping entire works or the temperament of characters as seen in moral or intellectual discourses [7, 8, 9].
  1. But it may even be affirmed that they were unable to ensure the preponderance of the Federal element in a case of this kind.
    — from Democracy in America — Volume 1 by Alexis de Tocqueville
  2. This disorganizing tendency was partly counteracted by the great preponderance of the Province of Holland, which alone
    — from The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783 by A. T. Mahan
  3. From this time on, Portugal was the faithful ally of England, whose sea power during this war gained its vast preponderance over all rivals.
    — from The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783 by A. T. Mahan
  4. The preponderance of either mode of viewing life not only determines single acts; it shapes a man's whole nature and temperament.
    — from The Basis of Morality by Arthur Schopenhauer
  5. When we come to the probably correct account of the incident, we shall see that the preponderance of the evidence points to another cause.
    — from Historical Essays by James Ford Rhodes
  6. There is nothing to substantiate this story; the preponderance of evidence is in support of the Edwards-Rosée version.
    — from All About Coffee by William H. Ukers
  7. Fortunately for our happiness, the mind admits their preponderance over opposite feelings.
    — from Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, v. 1 of 3 by James Tod
  8. The same applies to the preponderance of a negative over an affirmative attitude!
    — from The Will to Power: An Attempted Transvaluation of All Values. Book III and IV by Nietzsche
  9. what class of men have an immense preponderance over the rest of the community, in their power of representing public opinion in the legislature?
    — from American Notes by Charles Dickens

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