"Ninety-nine per cent of the people in the world are fools and the rest of us are in great danger of contagion"

Thornton Wilder's quote, "Ninety-nine per cent of individuals worldwide are fools and the rest of us remain in great danger of contagion," paints a negative yet thought-provoking image of human society. Initially glance, the declaration appears to cast a broad insult toward humankind, recommending that a frustrating bulk of individuals lack wisdom, judgment, or intelligence. However, upon closer assessment, the quote can be viewed as a commentary on the nature of influence and the vulnerability of even the smart to the follies of others.

The tip that "ninety-nine percent" are fools is hyperbolic, yet it serves to highlight Wilder's perception of widespread lack of knowledge or unreasonable habits in society. This part of the quote can be analyzed as a critique of groupthink, conformist tendencies, or the tendency for people to act against their self-interest or much better judgment, often affected by social pressures or popular opinion.

The second part of the quote, "and the rest of us remain in terrific threat of contagion," introduces a metaphor implying that absurdity is like an illness that can spread. Here, Wilder highlights a considerable concern: even those who consider themselves reasonable or smart are not unsusceptible to the influence of widespread lack of knowledge. It suggests a fragile limit in between knowledge and folly, where exposure to pervasive absurdity can lead to the disintegration of critical thought and sound judgment.

This interpretation lends the quote a layer of humility and self-awareness. It functions as a pointer that nobody is totally immune to being swayed by the predominant attitudes of the society they populate. Wilder, through his mordant wit, encourages watchfulness and intellectual self-reliance, promoting for a consistent assessment of one's beliefs and the sources from which they stem. The quote hence becomes a call to action for individuals to pursue awareness, cultivate discernment, and guard against the simple seduction of popular however unsound concepts.