public opinion

is a weak tyrant compared with our own private opinion.

Public opinion is a weak tyrant compared with our own private opinion.

Public opinion is an extremely mutable thing Henrik Ibsen

is, in America, a form of the sovereignty of the people. It is not dogma that comprises shared opinion [in democracy]... it is shared opinion that is dogma.

Throughout Democracy in America, Tocqueville presents public opinion as a form of the sovereignty of the people. This contrasts with the world of Christendom in which revelation is regarded as authoritative by everyone because it comes from God and all recognize and obey God, or at least want to be perceived as doing so. In Tocqueville's view, as Manent summarizes, ''It is not dogma that comprises shared opinion [in democracy]... it is shared opinion that is dogma.'

is held in reverence. It settles everything and some think it is the voice of God.

Public opinion is held in reverence. It settles everything. Some think it is the voice of God. Mark Twain

1s 2ressure is like the pressure of the atmosphere... You can't see it.

The pressure of public opinion is like the pressure of the atmosphere... You can't see it

is always wrong. One of the first pre-requisites of sanity is to disagree with three-fourths of the public.

To disagree with three-fourths of the British public is one of the first requisites of sanity. Oscar Wilde

is the aggregation that results for feelings which are mistaken for thinking.

We all do no end of feeling, and we mistake it for thinking. And out of it we get an aggregation which we consider a boon. Its name is public opinion. It is held in reverence. Some think it the voice of God. Mark Twain

is the greatest force for good when it happens to be on that side.

Public opinion is the greatest force for good when it happens to be on that side.

public opinion, n.All

public opinion