"There is a collective as well as an individual humor inclining peoples to sadness or cheerfulness, making them see things in bright or somber lights. In fact, only society can pass a collective opinion on the value of human life; for this the individual is incompetent."
Emile Durkheim was a French sociologist widely regarded as a founding figure in modern sociology. He established key concepts in social theory and wrote influential works including The Division of Labor in Society and Suicide. His methods shaped the academic study of social facts and institutions.