What they lamented was only the fact that they themselves were too old to witness all the beneficial effects of the new philosophy. The common people, especially the peasants and the workers, were glorified in a romantic mood as noble and unerring in their judgment. Thus the philosophers were confident that democracy, government by the people, would bring about social perfection. This prejudice was the fateful error of the humanitarians, the philosophers, and the liberals. It is not true that the masses are always right and know the means for attaining the ends aimed at.
Democracy guarantees a system of government in accordance with the wishes and plans of the majority.
But it cannot prevent majorities from falling victim to erroneous ideas and from adopting inappropriate policies which not only fail to realize the ends aimed at but result in disaster. Majorities too may err and destroy our civilization. The good cause will not triumph merely on account of its reasonableness and expediency. Only if men are such that they will finally espouse policies reasonable and likely to attain the ultimate ends aimed at, will civilization improve and society and state render men more satisfied, although not happy in a metaphysical sense. Whether or not this condition is given, only the unknown future can reveal.