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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.
 The rabble estimate few things according to their real value, 
most things according to their prejudices.
 [Lat., Vulgus read more 
 The rabble estimate few things according to their real value, 
most things according to their prejudices.
 [Lat., Vulgus ex veritate pauca, ex opinione multa aestimat.] 
 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. 
 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 voice of the people has about it something divine: for how 
otherwise can so many heads agree together read more 
 The voice of the people has about it something divine: for how 
otherwise can so many heads agree together as one?
 [Lat., Vox populi habet aliquid divinum: nam quomo do aliter tot 
capita in unum conspirare possint?] 
 It is a good part of sagacity to have known the foolish desires 
of the crowd and their unreasonable read more 
 It is a good part of sagacity to have known the foolish desires 
of the crowd and their unreasonable notions.
 [Lat., Bona prudentiae pars est nosse stultas vulgi cupiditates, 
et absurdas opiniones.] 
No whispered rumours which the many spread can wholly perish.
No whispered rumours which the many spread can wholly perish.
The public! why, the public's nothing better than a great baby.
The public! why, the public's nothing better than a great baby.
 We would not listen to those who were wont to say the voice of 
the people is the voice read more 
 We would not listen to those who were wont to say the voice of 
the people is the voice of God, for the voice of the mob is near 
akin to madness.
 [Lat., Nec audiendi sunt qui solent dicere vox populi, vox dei; 
cum tumultus vulgi semper insaniae proxima sit.]