And to say that society ought to be governed by the…
“And to say that society ought to be governed by the opinion of the wisest and best, though true, is useless. Whose opinion is to decide who are the wisest and best?”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Governance by elite opinion is ineffective because determining who is elite is ambiguous.
In simple terms: Ruling by the "best" fails without clear criteria.
Key Takeaway
Question authority and define merit.
Themes
politics
authority
elitism
Mood
skeptical
critical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- policy design
- leadership selection
- public discourse
Key Concepts
social contract
legitimacy
decision making
Questions to Reflect On
- Who decides who is "wise"?
- How can merit be objectively measured?
A Different Perspective
Elite selection is subjective and can be manipulated.