We could cure ourselves of this problem if we broke away from the crowd. But instead, the mob is ready to fight against reason to defend its own mistakes. The same thing happens in elections. When the fickle wind of popular opinion changes direction, the very people who voted for the consuls and praetors suddenly view them with wonder and admiration. When we make decisions based on majority vote, we all end up approving and disapproving of the same things.
we should be cured of this if we were to disengage ourselves from the herd; but as it is, the mob is ready to fight against reason in defence of its own mistake. Consequently the same thing happens as at elections, where, when the fickle breeze of popular favour has veered round, those who have been chosen consuls and praetors are viewed with admiration by the very men who made them so. That we should all approve and disapprove of the same things is the end of every decision which is given according to the voice of the majority.