The tendency of the casual mind is to pick out or stumble upon a sample which supports or defies its prejudices, and then to make it the representative of a whole class.
Source: Public Opinion, ch. 3, sct. 10 (1929).
-- Walter Lippmann, (Sep 23 1889-1974), US journalist, editor, author; He won Pulitzers 1958, 1962, for his syndicated column, Today and Tomorrow.