The voice of the people has been said to be the voice of God and, however generally this maxim has been quoted and believed, it is not true to fact. The people are turbulent and changing, they seldom judge or determine right.

The remark rejects the comforting proverb “Vox populi, vox Dei” (“the voice of the people is the voice of God”) and expresses a distinctly Hamiltonian skepticism about unfiltered popular judgment. It argues that public opinion is often volatile (“turbulent and changing”) and therefore an unreliable guide to justice or sound policy. In the broader Federalist-era debate, this sentiment aligns with the case for constitutional checks—representation, separation of powers, and other institutional restraints—meant to refine and stabilize popular will rather than simply mirror it. The quote’s significance lies in its tension with democratic ideals: it does not deny popular sovereignty outright, but warns that majorities can err and that durable governance requires mechanisms to temper momentary passions.