Quote by James Fenimore Cooper

It is a besetting vice of democracies to substitute public opinion for law. This is the usual form in which masses of men exhibit their tyranny.

It is a besetting vice of democracies to substitute public o

Summary

This quote suggests that one of the common flaws in democracies is the tendency to prioritize public opinion over the rule of law. When the majority opinion guides decision-making without proper consideration for legal principles, it can lead to the suppression of minority rights and result in a form of tyranny exercised by the masses. It warns against forsaking the importance of upholding the law and the potential dangers of relying solely on popular sentiment to shape policies and actions in democratic societies.

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By James Fenimore Cooper

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