The wise and the good never form the majority of any large…
![“The wise and the good never form the majority of any large society and it seldom happens that their measures are uniformly adopted… [All that wise and good men can do is] to persevere in doing their duty to their country and leave the consequences to him who made men only; neither elated by…” quote by John Jay](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/e7b/john-jay-31836_good-men_the-wise-and-the-good-never-form-the-maj_3217497.jpg)
““The wise and the good never form the majority of any large society and it seldom happens that their measures are uniformly adopted… [All that wise and good men can do is] to persevere in doing their duty to their country and leave the consequences to him who made men only; neither elated by success, however great, nor discouraged by disappointments however frequent or mortifying.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Wise and good people are rarely the majority; they must persist in duty despite lacking widespread support and accept outcomes beyond their control.
In simple terms: Good people are few, persist in duty despite limited support.
Key Takeaway
Persevere in duty regardless of majority opinion.
Themes
ethics
leadership
minority influence
duty
political philosophy
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political decision‑making
- community activism
- legislative processes
- military command
Key Concepts
civic responsibility
moral perseverance
public service
historical governance
Questions to Reflect On
- How can minorities influence societal norms?
- What responsibilities do leaders have when unpopular?
A Different Perspective
Minority voices may be ignored, limiting impact of ethical actions.