WIST Quotations

Heinlein, Robert A. -- Glory Road, ch. 17 (1963)

Dave — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 20:36:59 +0000

Vox Populi, Vox Dei translates as “My God! How did we get in this mess!”

Robert A. Heinlein (1907–1988) American writer
Glory Road, ch. 17 (1963)

Referring to a comment by Rufo about the limitations of democracy as a form of government. See Alcuin (AD 798).

Alcuin -- Letter (AD 798) to Charlemagne

Dave — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 17:05:10 +0000

The voice of the people is the voice of God.

[Vox populi, vox Dei.]

Alcuin of York (c. 735–804) Anglo-Latin scholar, clergyman, poet, teacher [Flaccus Albinus Alcuinus, Ealhwine, Alhwin, or Alchoin]
Letter (AD 798) to Charlemagne

Collected as Epistle 166, "Capitula quę tali convenit in tempore memorari," sec. 9 in various collections. (The epistle number varies.)

Alcuin did not actually invent the phrase -- though his use of it is one of the earliest recorded references. Ironically, while the phrase means that the popular will / voice / opinion is divine will, Alcuin used it while denying it:

Nec audiendi qui solent dicere: Vox populi, vox Dei. Cum tumultuositas vulgi semper insaniæ proxima sit.

[And those people should not be listened to who keep saying the voice of the people is the voice of God, since the riotousness of the crowd is always very close to madness.
[Source]

[We should not listen to those who like to affirm that the voice of the people is the voice of God, for the tumult of the masses is truly close to madness.]
[Source]

There is also some question as to whether this is an authentic Alcuin quote. For more information about the phrase, see here.

Roosevelt, Theodore -- Thomas Hart Benton, ch. 6 (1886)

Dave — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:41:35 +0000

He had not learned that the majority in a democracy has no more right to tyrannize over a minority than, under a different system, the latter would have to oppress the former; and that, if there is a moral principle at stake, the saying that the voice of the people is the voice of God may be quite as untrue, and do quite as much mischief, as the old theory of the divine right of kings. The distinguishing feature of our American governmental system is the freedom of the individual; it is quite as important to prevent his being oppressed by many men as it is to save him from the tyranny of one.

Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American politician, statesman, conservationist, writer; US President (1901–09)
Thomas Hart Benton, ch. 6 (1886)