When the leaders choose to make themselves bidders at an auction of popularity, their talents, in the construction of the state, will be of no service. They will become flatterers instead of legislators; the instruments, not the guides, of the people.

Summary

This quote suggests that when leaders prioritize gaining popularity over serving their role as legislators, their abilities to effectively govern and shape the state become useless. By engaging in tactics to secure popularity, leaders may resort to flattery rather than sound decision-making. Consequently, they become mere instruments of the people's desires instead of being the guiding force that the nation needs. Overall, the quote highlights the danger of leaders sacrificing their integrity and principles for popularity, which ultimately hinders their effectiveness in building a strong and just state.

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