<P> The emergence of public opinion as a significant force in the political realm can be dated to the late 17th century . However , opinion had been regarded as having singular importance since far earlier . Medieval fama publica or vox et fama communis had great legal and social importance from the 12th and 13th centuries onward . Later , William Shakespeare called public opinion the ' mistress of success ' and Blaise Pascal thought it was ' the queen of the world . ' John Locke in his treatise An Essay Concerning Human Understanding considered that man was subject to three laws : the divine law , the civil law , and most importantly in Locke 's judgement , the law of opinion or reputation . He regarded the latter as of the highest importance because dislike and ill - opinion force people to conform in their behaviour to social norms , however he did n't consider public opinion as a suitable influence for governments . </P>
<P> The emergence of public opinion as a significant force in the political realm can be dated to the late 17th century . However , opinion had been regarded as having singular importance since far earlier . Medieval fama publica or vox et fama communis had great legal and social importance from the 12th and 13th centuries onward . Later , William Shakespeare called public opinion the ' mistress of success ' and Blaise Pascal thought it was ' the queen of the world . ' John Locke in his treatise An Essay Concerning Human Understanding considered that man was subject to three laws : the divine law , the civil law , and most importantly in Locke 's judgement , the law of opinion or reputation . He regarded the latter as of the highest importance because dislike and ill - opinion force people to conform in their behaviour to social norms , however he did n't consider public opinion as a suitable influence for governments . </P>
who consider public opinion as the mistress of success
who consider public opinion as the mistress of success
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare