This proverb means that a single or small thing does not make a significant impact and that it takes many more of it together to make a significant impact.
We see an example of this in the fight for independence. In the quest for independence, only one person’s cry for independence will get him nowhere. He would easily be ignored and his cry be made null and void. Oftentimes, such a person can be easily silenced through arrest and incarceration, or execution.
Now what if the voices are more than one – say 1000, 10000, 1000000, etc? They become a significant force that cannot be ignored or silenced and they will prevail.
This proverb is very applicable to all spheres; the home, workplace, community, organization, and nation. The single voice is counted as naught, but the many voices can bring about significant social and political changes. For example, many voices can prevail in fighting for a better standard of living, the resignation of incompetent leadership, independence, freedom, justice, better health policies, better pension policies, etc. in a country.
If only one or a few voices fight for these aforementioned socio-political or socio-economic changes, they would end in failure. It takes many many people to make significant changes happen.