William Hazlitt Quotes
Nothing is more unjust or capricious than public opinion.... The public have neither shame nor gratitude.
William Hazlitt, 1778-1830, English Writer, Characteristics
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
As Poet Laureate to the King Dryden did not have great confidence in the wisdom of the public.
The ability of the public to change views swiftly has been observed by many earlier writers. Most of them thought the mob fickle and not worth the trouble to worry about public opinion. See {627556} for such an example. Spinoza argued the modern democratic view that it was critical. Spinoza’s ideas were considered so radical and dangerous that he was the only man in history who was excommunicated by the Catholics, the Jews and the Muslims.
The speech was never actually delivered, but instead the Bishop published it. It received wide distribution including in America where it was published by the Maryland Gazette on September 29, 1774.
This quotation is almost always given as if it were Alcuin who advocated listening to the people, when actually his view was just the opposite. See William Tecumseh Sherman for a more modern expression of the same view. Also, Walter Reynolds {32317} for an opposite view, but using a similar phrase. Note that since he was referring to what "the people" say, the quote must have been in common usage in the 9th century. For the earliest known use of the statement in Western civilization, see Hesiod {603399}.
1st Earl of Beaconsfield. British public opinion was solidly supporting war against Turkey because of their atrocities in Bulgaria. However Disraeli’s objective was limiting Tsarist Russia and wanted Turkey as an ally. The government resisted public opinion and the opposition and pulled off a stunning foreign policy triumph over the Russians.
The general was retired at the time of this interview. The United States found and killed the terrorist leader with an operation in Pakistan. The Pak military was not told and their own military nout only did not stop the incursion but didn’t even realize it was ongoing. There was much reason to believe that some military were supporting bin Laden, and this was also embarrassing. For those who wanted to bring him to justice, they were further humiliated that the Americans could find out what was happening in their own country when they could not.
She was unhurt when an assassin’s bullets did not hit her. There was an outpouring of affection, love, and thanks immediately after the assassination attempt.
William Hazlitt was an English essayist, drama and literary critic, painter, social commentator, and philosopher. He is now considered one of the greatest critics and essayists in the history of the English language, placed in the company of Samuel Johnson and George Orwell. He is also acknowledged as the finest art critic of his age. Despite his high standing among historians of literature and art, his work is currently little read and mostly out of print.
