--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must abandon the notion that the…" description: "\"We must abandon the notion that the people govern. Instead, we must adopt the theory that, by their occasional mobilisations as a majority, people supp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58c/walter-lippmann-1083_abandon_we-must-abandon-the-notion-that-the-peop_1766366.jpg" --- # We must abandon the notion that the people govern… ![“We must abandon the notion that the people govern. Instead, we must adopt the theory that, by their occasional mobilisations as a majority, people support or oppose the individuals who actually govern.” quote by Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58c/walter-lippmann-1083_abandon_we-must-abandon-the-notion-that-the-peop_1766366.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58c/walter-lippmann-1083_abandon_we-must-abandon-the-notion-that-the-peop_1766366.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58c/walter-lippmann-1083_abandon_we-must-abandon-the-notion-that-the-peop_1766366.jpg) > “We must abandon the notion that the people govern. Instead, we must adopt the theory that, by their occasional mobilisations as a majority, people support or oppose the individuals who actually govern.” [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People do not directly govern; they influence leaders through collective actions, supporting or opposing them. **In simple terms:** People influence rulers, not rule themselves. Key Takeaway Recognize the power of collective mobilization. Themes politics democracy public opinion Mood critical analytical Type political theoretical When to use this quote - elections - protests - policy advocacy - grassroots campaigns Key Concepts social contract elite theory mass mobilization Questions to Reflect On - How does collective action shape policy? - What mechanisms allow minorities to influence governance? A Different Perspective Assumes a clear distinction between rulers and the ruled, which can blur in practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abandon/) [Actually Govern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually-govern-1739515/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Govern Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/govern-instead-1220753/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majority/) [Mobilisations Majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mobilisations-majority-1739514/) [Notion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notion/) [Occasional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occasional/) [Oppose Individuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppose-individuals-1220748/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Govern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-govern-274567/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) ## Related quotes > [What the public does is not to express its opinions but to align itself for or against a proposal. If that theory is accepted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/what-the-public-does-is-not-to-express-its-opinions-but-to-align/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [In the White House, you can be on the pitcher's mound or you can be in the catcher's position. Put points on the board.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/in-the-white-house-you-can-be-on-the-pitcher-s-mound-or-you-can-be-in/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [“I consider the central idea pervading this struggle is the necessity that is upon us, of proving that popular govenment is not an absurdity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-consider-the-central-idea-pervading-this-struggle-is-the-necessity/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“In his novels from beginning to end, Dickens is making the same point always: that to the English governing classes the people they govern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-wilson/in-his-novels-from-beginning-to-end-dickens-is-making-the-same-point/) [Edmund Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-wilson/) > [Here, sir, the people govern; here they act by their immediate representatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/here-sir-the-people-govern-here-they-act-by-their-immediate/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Here sir, the people govern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/here-sir-the-people-govern/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [“The general ethos of the people they have to govern determines the behaviour of politicians.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot-2/the-general-ethos-of-the-people-they-have-to-govern-determines-the/) [T.S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot-2/) > [If one meets a powerful person - Adolf Hitler, Joe Stalin or Bill Gates - ask them five questions: 'What power have you got?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/if-one-meets-a-powerful-person-adolf-hitler-joe-stalin-or-bill-gates-2/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [Do you know what happens with people who cannot govern themselves? That's right. 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America proves that the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/the-people-who-lead-us-are-of-us-we-put-them-in-office-and-we-can/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [Wherever people defend the rights of the individual, I stand with them above all, over and beyond any wishes relating to how an economy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/wherever-people-defend-the-rights-of-the-individual-i-stand-with-them/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [“For my part I consider the central idea pervading this struggle is the necessity that is upon us of proving that popular government is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/for-my-part-i-consider-the-central-idea-pervading-this-struggle-is/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [Bhojpuri film industry is very small - precisely eight people govern the whole industry and I am one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagma/bhojpuri-film-industry-is-very-small-precisely-eight-people-govern/) [Nagma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagma/) ## More by Walter Lippmann > [The emancipated woman has to fight something worse than the crusted prejudices of her uncles; she has to fight the bewilderment in her own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-emancipated-woman-has-to-fight-something-worse-than-the-crusted/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Even God has been defended with nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/even-god-has-been-defended-with-nonsense/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [A better distribution of incomes would increase that efficiency by diverting a great fund of wealth from the useless to the useful members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/a-better-distribution-of-incomes-would-increase-that-efficiency-by/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [There is but one bond of peace that is both permanent and enriching: The increasing knowledge of the world in which experiment occurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/there-is-but-one-bond-of-peace-that-is-both-permanent-and-enriching/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. 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