No whispered rumours which the many spread can wholly perish.

No whispered rumours which the many spread can wholly perish.

The multitude is always in the wrong.

The multitude is always in the wrong.

The public! the public! how many fools does it require to make
the public?
[Fr., Le public! le read more

The public! the public! how many fools does it require to make
the public?
[Fr., Le public! le public! combien faut-il de sots pour faire
un public?]

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 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.

The tyranny of a multitude is a multiplied tyranny.

The tyranny of a multitude is a multiplied tyranny.

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.]

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.]