Another quote that comes to mind

From V For Vendetta:

'It does not do to rely too much on silent majorities, Evey, for silence is a fragile thing...one loud noise, and it's gone... Noise is relative to the silence preceding it - the more absolute the hush, the more shocking the thunderclap. Our masters have not heard the people's voice for generations...and it is much much louder than they care to remember.'