Populus iuxta sanctiones divinas ducendus est, non sequendus; et ad testimonium personae magis eliguntur honestae. nec audiendi qui solent dicere: vox populi, vox Dei; cum tumultuositas vulgi semper insaniae proxima sit.
(Alcuin, Capitulare Admonitionis ad Carolum = Ep. 166.9)
The people must be led according to divine laws, not followed, and by the examples provided by more respectable people. Those who say “the voice of the people is the voice of God” should not be heeded, for the hubbub of the crowd is always rather close to madness. (tr. Jeff Sypeck)
Crambe Repetita 