--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Public opinion is the thermometer a…" description: "\"Public opinion is the thermometer a monarch should constantly consult.\" — Napoleon Bonaparte" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/napoleon-bonaparte-206_opinion_public-opinion-is-the-thermometer-a-mona_2164042.jpg" --- # Public opinion is the thermometer a monarch should… ![“Public opinion is the thermometer a monarch should constantly consult.” quote by Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/napoleon-bonaparte-206_opinion_public-opinion-is-the-thermometer-a-mona_2164042.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/napoleon-bonaparte-206_opinion_public-opinion-is-the-thermometer-a-mona_2164042.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/napoleon-bonaparte-206_opinion_public-opinion-is-the-thermometer-a-mona_2164042.jpg) > “Public opinion is the thermometer a monarch should constantly consult.” [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders should regularly gauge public sentiment to guide decisions and maintain legitimacy. **In simple terms:** Rulers need to know what people think. Key Takeaway Listen to the people often. Themes leadership public opinion legitimacy Mood cautious strategic Type political advisory When to use this quote - policy making - campaign strategy - crisis communication - public relations Key Concepts political theory social contract Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify the accuracy of public sentiment? - What risks arise from over‑reliance on popular opinion? A Different Perspective Public opinion can be volatile and misleading if not contextualized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Monarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monarch/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Public opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-opinion/) ## Related quotes > [You've got to be a thermostat rather than a thermometer. A thermostat shapes the climate of opinion; a thermometer just reflects it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/you-ve-got-to-be-a-thermostat-rather-than-a-thermometer-a-thermostat/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [I am a monarch of God's creation, and you reptiles of the earth dare not oppose me. I render an account of my government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/i-am-a-monarch-of-god-s-creation-and-you-reptiles-of-the-earth-dare/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [To attach no importance to public opinion, is a proof that you do not merit its suffrage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/to-attach-no-importance-to-public-opinion-is-a-proof-that-you-do-not/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [People have tried to corner the market on being offended, corner the market on language and corner the market on opinion. Should I lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-o-neal/people-have-tried-to-corner-the-market-on-being-offended-corner-the/) [Patrice O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-o-neal/) > [You don't change minds in Washington with sweet reason. You do it to the white light of public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-forbes/you-don-t-change-minds-in-washington-with-sweet-reason-you-do-it-to/) [Steve Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-forbes/) > [Ignoring party leaders in order to sway public opinion may work in countries where elected representatives are responsive to their constituencies. But in Mexico,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/ignoring-party-leaders-in-order-to-sway-public-opinion-may-work-in/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) > [When men exercise their reason coolly and freely, on a variety of distinct questions, they inevitably fall into different opinions, on some of them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/when-men-exercise-their-reason-coolly-and-freely-on-a-variety-of/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [One of his officers, Henry Lee, summed up contemporary public opinion of Washington: First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/one-of-his-officers-henry-lee-summed-up-contemporary-public-opinion/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The tyranny of public opinion (and what an opinion!) is as fatuous in the small towns of France as it is in the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/the-tyranny-of-public-opinion-and-what-an-opinion-is-as-fatuous-in/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [The possibility of my presidential candidacy emerged spontaneously in public opinion polls. For my part, I noticed people's affection when I was doing work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-bachelet/the-possibility-of-my-presidential-candidacy-emerged-spontaneously-in/) [Michelle Bachelet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-bachelet/) > [Politicians, after all, are not over a year behind public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/politicians-after-all-are-not-over-a-year-behind-public-opinion/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [Public opinion in the United States has shifted significantly, not just outside but also within the Jewish community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/public-opinion-in-the-united-states-has-shifted-significantly-not/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum. (Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nihil-est-incertius-vulgo-nihil-obscurius-voluntate-hominum-nihil/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [I believe the role that people like myself have played in the transformation of public opinion has been by persistently presenting a different point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/i-believe-the-role-that-people-like-myself-have-played-in-the/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [In America there is not one single element of civilization that is not made to depend, in the end, upon public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/in-america-there-is-not-one-single-element-of-civilization-that-is/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) ## More by Napoleon Bonaparte > [He is almost a statesman. He lies well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/he-is-almost-a-statesman-he-lies-well/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Men grow old quickly on the battlefield.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/men-grow-old-quickly-on-the-battlefield/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The only victories which leave no regret are those which are gained over ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-only-victories-which-leave-no-regret-are-those-which-are-gained/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [When a government is dependent upon bankers for money, they and not the leaders of the government control the situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/when-a-government-is-dependent-upon-bankers-for-money-they-and-not/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [In the eyes of empire builders men are not men but instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/in-the-eyes-of-empire-builders-men-are-not-men-but-instruments/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [All becomes easy when we follow the current of opinion; it is the ruler of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/all-becomes-easy-when-we-follow-the-current-of-opinion-it-is-the/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The bullet that will kill me is not yet cast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-bullet-that-will-kill-me-is-not-yet-cast/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [A great reputation is a great noise, the more there is of it, and the further does it swell. Land, monuments, Nations, all fall,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-great-reputation-is-a-great-noise-the-more-there-is-of-it-and-the/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Character is victory organized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/character-is-victory-organized/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Republican despotism is more fertile in acts of tyranny, because everyone has a hand in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/republican-despotism-is-more-fertile-in-acts-of-tyranny-because/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [My decision to destroy the authority of the blacks in Saint Domingue (Haiti) is not so much based on considerations of commerce and money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/my-decision-to-destroy-the-authority-of-the-blacks-in-saint-domingue/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The army is the true nobility of our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-army-is-the-true-nobility-of-our-country/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [There is only one favorable moment in war; talent consists in knowing how to seize it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/there-is-only-one-favorable-moment-in-war-talent-consists-in-knowing/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [A great reserve and severity of manners are necessary for the command of those who are older than ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-great-reserve-and-severity-of-manners-are-necessary-for-the-command/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) [Explore all 914 Napoleon Bonaparte quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) ## More Monarch quotes > [“I am acting, then," continued Alexander, "only on the defensive. The gods, who always favor the right, have given me the victory. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-abbott/i-am-acting-then-continued-alexander-only-on-the-defensive-the-gods/) [Jacob Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-abbott/) > [It's a problem for him because he's got - like Edward VII had - nearly all his lifetime to wait until he becomes Monarch.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-holden/it-s-a-problem-for-him-because-he-s-got-like-edward-vii-had-nearly/) [Anthony Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-holden/) > [“Imagine that the whole world belongs to you. The birch trees in New Hampshire's White Mountains are yours, and so are the cirrus clouds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/imagine-that-the-whole-world-belongs-to-you-the-birch-trees-in-new/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [Like or dislike her, the British Queen is harmless. Her role is purely ceremonial. Conversely, life and death are in the hands of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilana-mercer/like-or-dislike-her-the-british-queen-is-harmless-her-role-is-purely/) [Ilana Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilana-mercer/) > [A constitutional monarchy requires the monarch to be above politics but to be fully informed about politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-rees-mogg/a-constitutional-monarchy-requires-the-monarch-to-be-above-politics/) [Jacob Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-rees-mogg/) > [No medieval monarch in the whole of British history ever had such power as every modern British Prime Minister has in his or her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/no-medieval-monarch-in-the-whole-of-british-history-ever-had-such/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [I have never known the monarch to object to what the House of Commons does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-hoyle/i-have-never-known-the-monarch-to-object-to-what-the-house-of-commons/) [Lindsay Hoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-hoyle/) > [“Grease the guillotine with the fat of tyrants. Pull the concubine out of the clergyman's bed. Monarch's blood must flow, as thick as our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-hecker/grease-the-guillotine-with-the-fat-of-tyrants-pull-the-concubine-out/) Friedrich Hecker > [A monarch, when good, is entitled to the consideration which we accord to a pirate who keeps Sunday School between crimes; when bad, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-monarch-when-good-is-entitled-to-the-consideration-which-we-accord/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“I am neither young nor callow and the people need only a strong monarch to rule them, not a male one. And I need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-mcgowan/i-am-neither-young-nor-callow-and-the-people-need-only-a-strong/) [Jennifer McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-mcgowan/) > [The Windsor monarchy is held in just awe. The whole process of criticism of the personal behaviour of the monarch is put in absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starkey/the-windsor-monarchy-is-held-in-just-awe-the-whole-process-of/) [David Starkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starkey/) > [“Every monarch in the world, except the Emperor of China, wears a military uniform, and bestows the greatest rewards on the man who kills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/every-monarch-in-the-world-except-the-emperor-of-china-wears-a/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“... every monarch needs a blow on the head, from time to time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/every-monarch-needs-a-blow-on-the-head-from-time-to-time/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [I am monarch of all I survey, My right there is none to dispute, From the centre all round to the sea, I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/i-am-monarch-of-all-i-survey-my-right-there-is-none-to-dispute-from/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [“The anarch, as I have expounded elsewhere, is the pendant to the monarch; he is as sovereign as the monarch, and also freer since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-junger/the-anarch-as-i-have-expounded-elsewhere-is-the-pendant-to-the/) [Ernst Jünger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-junger/) [Browse all 82 Monarch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monarch/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Public opinion is the thermometer a monarch should constantly consult.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Napoleon Bonaparte" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/public-opinion-is-the-thermometer-a-monarch-should-constantly-consult/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Monarch" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/public-opinion-is-the-thermometer-a-monarch-should-constantly-consult/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/napoleon-bonaparte-206_opinion_public-opinion-is-the-thermometer-a-mona_2164042.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/napoleon-bonaparte-206_opinion_public-opinion-is-the-thermometer-a-mona_2164042.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/napoleon-bonaparte-206_opinion_public-opinion-is-the-thermometer-a-mona_2164042.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Public opinion is the thermometer a monarch should constantly consult.” — Napoleon Bonaparte", "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": "Napoleon Bonaparte", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Public opinion is the thermometer a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/public-opinion-is-the-thermometer-a-monarch-should-constantly-consult/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/public-opinion-is-the-thermometer-a-monarch-should-constantly-consult/#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 } } ] } ```