# Buddha — The Crowd character guide

> Buddha in The Crowd by Gustave Le Bon.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0002-the-crowd

## Who they are

Religious founder cited to illustrate the power of belief over crowds.

## Relationships

### [Crowds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crowd_se/characters/crowds)

_social_

Buddha represents a spiritual leader whose teachings contrast with the herd mentality of crowds.

### [The Hero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crowd_se/characters/the_hero)

_psychological_

Buddha and The Hero represent contrasting paths: inner enlightenment versus external glory.

## In the story

### [A Religious Shape Assumed by All the Convictions of Crowds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crowd_se/chapters/iv-a-religious-shape-assumed-by-all-the-convictions-of-crowds)

Implicitly referenced as a founder of a religious creed who inspired fanatical crowd sentiments.

### [The Leaders of Crowds and Their Means of Persuasion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crowd_se/chapters/iii-the-leaders-of-crowds-and-their-means-of-persuasion)

Mentioned as possessing great personal prestige and as a figure whose prestige persists after death.

### [Prestige](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crowd_se/chapters/3-prestige)

Listed among great leaders who possessed high personal prestige, enabling them to dominate and fascinate.

### [Fixed Beliefs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crowd_se/chapters/1-fixed-beliefs)

Included among the founders of beliefs who exert a profound despotism from the grave.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crowd_se/characters/buddha
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crowd_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crowd_se/characters