One man with courage makes a majority.

The saying asserts that moral resolve and willingness to act can outweigh numerical disadvantage. “Majority” here is less a literal vote count than a metaphor for effective power: a single person who is steadfast, prepared to take risks, and able to inspire others can shift outcomes that appear settled by consensus or inertia. Attributed to Andrew Jackson—whose public image emphasized decisiveness and personal will—it fits a broader tradition of democratic-era rhetoric celebrating individual fortitude against elites or timid institutions. The line endures because it flatters agency: it suggests that courage is contagious and that leadership begins with one person refusing to yield.

One man with courage is a majority.
One man with courage makes a majority of one.