--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One should respect public opinion insofar…" description: "\"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 s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a67/bertrand-russell-69_opinion_one-should-respect-public-opinion-insofa_2309397.jpg" --- # One should respect public opinion insofar as is necessary… ![“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.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a67/bertrand-russell-69_opinion_one-should-respect-public-opinion-insofa_2309397.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a67/bertrand-russell-69_opinion_one-should-respect-public-opinion-insofa_2309397.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a67/bertrand-russell-69_opinion_one-should-respect-public-opinion-insofa_2309397.jpg) > “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.” [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Insofar Necessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insofar-necessary-5478926/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Opinion Insofar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion-insofar-2959011/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Public opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-opinion/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respect Public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-public-2825622/) [Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyranny/) [Unnecessary Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unnecessary-tyranny-2943131/) ## Related quotes > [One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/one-should-as-a-rule-respect-public-opinion-in-so-far-as-is-necessary/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/one-should-as-a-rule-respect-public-opinion-in-so-far-as-is-necessary-2/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Manipulations of opinion, insofar as they are inspired by well-defined interests, have limited goals; their effect, however, if they happen to touch upon an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/manipulations-of-opinion-insofar-as-they-are-inspired-by-well-defined/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [I have always been very open about my respect for public service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-moskowitz/i-have-always-been-very-open-about-my-respect-for-public-service/) [Eva Moskowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-moskowitz/) > [If advertising had a little more respect for the public, the public would have a lot more respect for advertising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-randolph-adams/if-advertising-had-a-little-more-respect-for-the-public-the-public/) [James Randolph Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-randolph-adams/) > [I respect very much my public and also the music I perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-bocelli/i-respect-very-much-my-public-and-also-the-music-i-perform/) [Andrea Bocelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-bocelli/) > [We want to stop waste because we respect taxpayers and we respect our public services.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-reeves/we-want-to-stop-waste-because-we-respect-taxpayers-and-we-respect-our/) [Rachel Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-reeves/) > [Let us remember we are all part of one American family. 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