"I understand the common man because I understand me in that regard at least"
About this Quote
The subtext is both flattering and controlling. It flatters the audience by suggesting their instincts are legible and worth honoring; it controls them by implying those instincts can be mapped, anticipated, and monetized. McMahon's "common man" isnt a sociological category, it is a consumer profile: the guy in the cheap seats who wants catharsis, simple stakes, and someone to blame. When he says "in that regard at least", he hedges just enough to sound modest, while actually protecting the core claim: his authority comes from an almost mystical intuition about mass desire.
Context matters because McMahon is not a politician asking for votes; he's an entertainer asking for buy-in. The line functions as a license to manipulate openly. It reframes cynicism as intimacy: I know you, because I know myself, and Ive been turning that knowledge into reactions, ratings, and revenue ever since.
Quote Details
| Topic | Wisdom |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
McMahon, Vince. (2026, January 16). I understand the common man because I understand me in that regard at least. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-understand-the-common-man-because-i-understand-105526/
Chicago Style
McMahon, Vince. "I understand the common man because I understand me in that regard at least." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-understand-the-common-man-because-i-understand-105526/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I understand the common man because I understand me in that regard at least." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-understand-the-common-man-because-i-understand-105526/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.










