Opinion Quote by Bertrand Russell
“One should respect public opinion insofar as is necessary to avoid starvation and keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "On Liberty and the Individual" by Bertrand Russell, 1918
One should heed public opinion only to the extent necessary for survival and legal safety; beyond that, yielding to it becomes an unnecessary oppression.
In simple terms: Follow public opinion only when essential for safety.
Key Takeaway
Question authority when it overreaches.
Themes
political philosophy
individual freedom
social pressure
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- civic engagement
- legal compliance
- personal decision making
- activism
Key Concepts
liberty
authoritarianism
Questions to Reflect On
- When is public opinion beneficial?
- How to balance safety with autonomy?
A Different Perspective
May underestimate the benefits of collective wisdom.
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
