I recognize that public opinion--often temporarily uninformed but in the end generally right--does often save the democracies of the world from the selfish ends of self-seeking and misguided leadership; but, given noble and wise representatives, they work best when least influenced by the fleeting passions of the day.
James Beck: “I recognize that public opinion--often temporarily uninformed but in the end generally right--does often save the…”
Editor's note · Context
Beck discusses the role of public opinion in democracy and the importance of wise leadership.
Share
More from James Beck
The greatest and noblest purpose of the Constitution was not alone to hold in nicest equipose the relative powers of the nation and the States, but also to maintain in the scales of justice a true equilibrium between the rights of…
That vision still remains as an ideal with the American people and still leads them to ever-higher achievements, for in all the mad changes of a frenzied hour, they have not yet lost faith in or love for the Constitution of the Fathers!
It must champion the human soul in its God-given right to exercise freely the faculties of mind and body.
The tendency of group morality to standardize man--and thus reduce all men to the dead level of an average mediocrity--is one that the law should combat.





