When Scipio became consul and was keen on getting the province of Africa, promising that Carthage should be completely destroyed, and the senate would not agree to this because Fabius Maximus was against it, he threatened to appeal to the people, for he knew full well how pleasing such projects are to the populace.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A leader may bypass institutional checks by appealing directly to public opinion when their strategic goals face opposition.
- In plain terms
- Politicians can use popular support to override elite resistance.
- What can you take from it?
- Public opinion can be leveraged to overcome political obstacles.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is overriding institutions justified?
- How do leaders balance elite and popular will?
Another view
Appealing to the populace can undermine institutional stability and norms.
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