For who can be secure of private right,
If sovereign sway may be dissolved by might?
Nor read more

For who can be secure of private right,
If sovereign sway may be dissolved by might?
Nor is the people's judgment always true:
The most may err as grossly as the few.

The key of the fields (street).
[Fr., La clef des champs.]

The key of the fields (street).
[Fr., La clef des champs.]

The man in the street does not know a star in the sky.

The man in the street does not know a star in the sky.

Classes and masses.

Classes and masses.

The fickle populace always change with the prince.
[Lat., Mobile mutatur semper cum principe vulgus.]

The fickle populace always change with the prince.
[Lat., Mobile mutatur semper cum principe vulgus.]

This many-headed monster, Multitude.

This many-headed monster, Multitude.

I wish the crowd to feel itself well treated,
Especially since it lives and lets me live.
read more

I wish the crowd to feel itself well treated,
Especially since it lives and lets me live.
[Ger., Ich wunschte sehr, der Menge zu behagen,
Besonders weil sie lebt und leben lasst.]

The individual is foolish; the multitude, for the moment is
foolish, when they act without deliberation; but the species read more

The individual is foolish; the multitude, for the moment is
foolish, when they act without deliberation; but the species is
wise, and, when time is given to it, as a species it always acts
right.

Hence ye profane; I hate ye all;
Both the great vulgar, and the small.

Hence ye profane; I hate ye all;
Both the great vulgar, and the small.