For Book: Shakespeare Quote about Fickleness of Crowd?

[TromboneAl]

I have a memory of quote about how the masses are fickle and will believe that last thing they hear. That is, if two speakers address the crowd, the crowd will believe whoever they heard last.

I think it's from a Shakespeare play, but no amount of Googling has uncovered it.

Anyone know the quote or something similar?

Thanks.

 

[Gumby]

It sounds like Coriolanus, Act I, Scene 1, lines 173 to 175.

With every minute you do change a mind;
And call him noble that was now your hate,
Him vile that was your garland.

 

[Aerides]

I googled a bit and got this:

“Look, as I blow this feather from my face,
And as the air blows it to me again,
Obeying with my wind when I do blow,
And yielding to another when it blows,
Commanded always by the greater gust;
Such is the lightness of you common men.”

The last two lines sound like your sort of scenario. King Henry VI part 3, act 3, sc. 1

 

[TromboneAl]

Those are good, but I'm looking for one (which may not exist) that talks about the crowd siding with whomever they hear last.

It's because in this book the main character is acting as the prosecution (in a lawsuit), so his opening statement goes first as opposed to second.

 

[Nemo2]

Julius Caesar, Act I, Scene I.

Marullus speaking about how the crowds who cheered Pompey no cheer Caesar.

 

[kcowan]

Those are good, but I'm looking for one (which may not exist) that talks about the crowd siding with whomever they hear last.

It's because in this book the main character is acting as the prosecution (in a lawsuit), so his opening statement goes first as opposed to second.

How about something simpler/more current:

He who laugh last, laughs best!