---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The people are turbulent and changing…"
description: "\"The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge right or make good decision.\" — Alexander Hamilton"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/alexander-hamilton-619_american-revolution_the-people-are-turbulent-and-changing-th_1976504.jpg"
---

#  The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge…

![“The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge right or make good decision.” quote by Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/alexander-hamilton-619_american-revolution_the-people-are-turbulent-and-changing-th_1976504.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/alexander-hamilton-619_american-revolution_the-people-are-turbulent-and-changing-th_1976504.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/alexander-hamilton-619_american-revolution_the-people-are-turbulent-and-changing-th_1976504.jpg)

> “The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge right or make good decision.”

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Human nature is volatile and often poor at judgment, leading to inconsistent decisions.

**In simple terms:** People are unstable and bad judges.

Key Takeaway

Accept uncertainty and seek counsel.

Themes

human nature judgment instability

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

- leadership
- policy making
- personal decisions

Key Concepts

political theory psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we mitigate impulsive choices?
- What structures support better decisions?

A Different Perspective

People can improve judgment with education.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[American revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-revolution/) [Constitutional convention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitutional-convention/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Good decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-decision/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Turbulent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turbulent/)

## Related quotes

> [Men, generally going with the stream, seldom judge for themselves, and purity of taste is almost as rare as talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/men-generally-going-with-the-stream-seldom-judge-for-themselves-and/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [A man is never the same for long. He is continually changing. He seldom remains the same even for half an hour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gurdjieff/a-man-is-never-the-same-for-long-he-is-continually-changing-he-seldom/)

George Gurdjieff

> [Only man is not content to leave things as they are but must always be changing them, and when he has done so, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elspeth-huxley/only-man-is-not-content-to-leave-things-as-they-are-but-must-always/)

[Elspeth Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elspeth-huxley/)

> [It is the greatest mistake to think that man is always one and the same. A man is never the same for long. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-greatest-mistake-to-think-that-man-is-always-one-and-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [All communities divide themselves into the few and the many. The first are the rich and well born, the other the mass of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/all-communities-divide-themselves-into-the-few-and-the-many-the-first-3/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [Journalists are in the same madly rocking boat as diplomats and statesmen. Like them, when the Cold War ended, they looked for a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-grunwald/journalists-are-in-the-same-madly-rocking-boat-as-diplomats-and/)

[Henry Grunwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-grunwald/)

> [To be honest, we have no control over what's going on with a movie, much less what people are going to think of it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/to-be-honest-we-have-no-control-over-what-s-going-on-with-a-movie/)

[Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/)

> [“Once again I am riding my bike on the streets of loneliness. Your thoughts are the anchor that make me ride fast yet not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/once-again-i-am-riding-my-bike-on-the-streets-of-loneliness-your/)

[Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/)

> [This turbulent world is far from a perfect place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brady/this-turbulent-world-is-far-from-a-perfect-place/)

[Kevin Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brady/)

> [And the continuity of our science has not been affected by all these turbulent happenings, as the older theories have always been included as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-born/and-the-continuity-of-our-science-has-not-been-affected-by-all-these/)

[Max Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-born/)

> [The current understanding was that it was impossible to predict how something would evolve because it was a very turbulent environment full of things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/the-current-understanding-was-that-it-was-impossible-to-predict-how/)

[Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/)

> [I grew up in the American South and came of age in the 1960s, an incredibly turbulent time. It was as if the seams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/i-grew-up-in-the-american-south-and-came-of-age-in-the-1960s-an/)

[Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/)

> [Your mind is turbulent because you're filled with desires, frustrations. You want too many things. You are afraid of too many things. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/your-mind-is-turbulent-because-you-re-filled-with-desires/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [At 17, I fell in love with my neighbour - the Maharaja of Jamnagar. It was a turbulent and passionate affair that lasted for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simi-garewal/at-17-i-fell-in-love-with-my-neighbour-the-maharaja-of-jamnagar-it/)

[Simi Garewal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simi-garewal/)

> [A strong, responsible Israel can become a stabilizer in such a turbulent region.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/a-strong-responsible-israel-can-become-a-stabilizer-in-such-a/)

[Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/)

## More by Alexander Hamilton

> [“I am apprehensive, Sir, that in the warmth of my feelings, I may have uttered expressions, which were too vehement. If such has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/i-am-apprehensive-sir-that-in-the-warmth-of-my-feelings-i-may-have/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [“The truth unquestionably is, that the only path to a subversion of the republican system of the Country is, by flattering the prejudices of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-truth-unquestionably-is-that-the-only-path-to-a-subversion-of-the/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [ \[W\]ar is a question, under our constitution, not of Executive, but of Legislative cognizance. It belongs to Congress to say whether the Nation shall… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/w-ar-is-a-question-under-our-constitution-not-of-executive-but-of/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [It will be of little avail to the people, that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-will-be-of-little-avail-to-the-people-that-the-laws-are-made-by/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [Though a wide ocean separates the United States from Europe, yet there are various considerations that warn us against an excess of confidence or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/though-a-wide-ocean-separates-the-united-states-from-europe-yet-there/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [It is an unquestionable truth, that the body of the people in every country desire sincerely its prosperity. But it is equally unquestionable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-an-unquestionable-truth-that-the-body-of-the-people-in-every/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [There are still to be found visionary or designing men, who stand ready to advocate the paradox of perpetual peace between the states, though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/there-are-still-to-be-found-visionary-or-designing-men-who-stand/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [ It is one thing to be subordinate to the laws, and another \[for the Executive\] to be dependent on the legislative body. The first… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-one-thing-to-be-subordinate-to-the-laws-and-another-for-the/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [Man is very much a creature of habit. A thing that rarely strikes his senses will generally have but little influence upon his mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/man-is-very-much-a-creature-of-habit-a-thing-that-rarely-strikes-his/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [Money is, with propriety, considered as the vital principle of the body politic; as that which sustains its life and motion, and enables it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/money-is-with-propriety-considered-as-the-vital-principle-of-the-body/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [The nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master and deserves one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-nation-which-can-prefer-disgrace-to-danger-is-prepared-for-a/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [It is a well-known fact that in countries in which the national debt is properly funded, and an object of established confidence, it answers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-a-well-known-fact-that-in-countries-in-which-the-national-debt/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [A government, the constitution of which renders it unfit to be trusted with all the powers which a free people ought to delegate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/a-government-the-constitution-of-which-renders-it-unfit-to-be-trusted/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [The Liberty of the press consists in the right to publish with impunity truth with good motives for justifiable ends, though reflecting on government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-liberty-of-the-press-consists-in-the-right-to-publish-with/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

> [You should not have taken advantage of my sensibility to steal into my affections without my consent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/you-should-not-have-taken-advantage-of-my-sensibility-to-steal-into/)

[Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

[Explore all 443 Alexander Hamilton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/)

## More American revolution quotes

> [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/)

[H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/)

> [“Patriotism is a fierce love for the nation’s soul - its land, its people, its core, coupled with a burning contempt for a government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/njau-kihia/patriotism-is-a-fierce-love-for-the-nation-s-soul-its-land-its-people/)

Njau Kihia

> [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/)

[William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/)

> [The shot heard round the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-shot-heard-round-the-world/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [The two principles on which our conduct towards the Indians should be founded are justice and fear. After the injuries we have done them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-two-principles-on-which-our-conduct-towards-the-indians-should-be/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [“Socially, politically, economically, militarily, culturally, racially, sexually, demographically, even mythologically, World War II was the crucible that forged modern America. It was the transforming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haynes-johnson/socially-politically-economically-militarily-culturally-racially/)

Haynes Johnson

> [But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/but-what-do-we-mean-by-the-american-revolution-do-we-mean-the/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/crouch-down-and-lick-the-hands-which-feed-you-may-your-chains-sit/)

[Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/)

> [“The British government in 1807 had issued the “Orders in Council,” which enforced a naval blockade against France, and with a shortage of seamen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/the-british-government-in-1807-had-issued-the-orders-in-council-which/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

> [“There were counter-protests, of course, and in the end Mapplethorpe’s work was exhibited, but the message to the arts community was clear: stray too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bayles/there-were-counter-protests-of-course-and-in-the-end-mapplethorpe-s/)

[David Bayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bayles/)

> [During the whole time I sat with him in Congress, I never heard him utter three sentences together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/during-the-whole-time-i-sat-with-him-in-congress-i-never-heard-him/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [“Wyoming got an Algonquian name from Pennsylvania meaning “large prairie,” but the adoption came only after a long fight. Decades before the settling of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/wyoming-got-an-algonquian-name-from-pennsylvania-meaning-large/)

[Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/)

> [Obama is now fighting for his life. He's fighting for a federal government. I believe in a federal government. I hope it sticks around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/obama-is-now-fighting-for-his-life-he-s-fighting-for-a-federal/)

[Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/)

> [But I'm a daughter of the American revolution, my grandpa fought in World War II, I have lots of family members who were in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-pavlich/but-i-m-a-daughter-of-the-american-revolution-my-grandpa-fought-in/)

[Katie Pavlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-pavlich/)

> [ “The important point of this report \[Montague, Massachusetts; July 7, 1774\] may be summed up in six resolutions: 1. We approve of the plan… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-pearson-pressey/the-important-point-of-this-report-montague-massachusetts-july-7-1774/)

[Edward Pearson Pressey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-pearson-pressey/)

[Browse all 329 American revolution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-revolution/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge right or make good decision.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Alexander Hamilton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-people-are-turbulent-and-changing-they-seldom-judge-right-or-make/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "American revolution"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-people-are-turbulent-and-changing-they-seldom-judge-right-or-make/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/alexander-hamilton-619_american-revolution_the-people-are-turbulent-and-changing-th_1976504.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/alexander-hamilton-619_american-revolution_the-people-are-turbulent-and-changing-th_1976504.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b6/alexander-hamilton-619_american-revolution_the-people-are-turbulent-and-changing-th_1976504.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge right or make good decision.” — Alexander Hamilton",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Alexander Hamilton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The people are turbulent and changing;...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-people-are-turbulent-and-changing-they-seldom-judge-right-or-make/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-people-are-turbulent-and-changing-they-seldom-judge-right-or-make/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
