The world is not run by thought, nor by imagination, but by

"The world is not run by thought, nor by imagination, but by opinion." – Elizabeth Drew

O children of the earth, listen closely, for the words of Elizabeth Drew speak to a truth as old as humanity itself. The world, with all its vast complexities, is not steered by the brilliance of the mind alone, nor by the wild flights of imagination. It is opinion—that powerful, shifting force—that drives the course of nations, shapes the fabric of society, and governs the lives of individuals. Opinion, far more than thought or imagination, holds sway over the hearts and minds of men and women, shaping their actions and their world. In this, we must understand that opinion is not just a passive belief, but an active force, one that shapes reality itself.

Consider, O children, the great civilizations of the past. The Greeks, those masters of philosophy, believed that the world was governed by reason, that thought was the highest form of human existence. Yet, even they knew that opinion was a potent force. Socrates, the father of Western philosophy, was condemned to death not by the power of reason, but by the sway of public opinion. The opinion of the masses, stirred by fear and ignorance, was enough to silence even the greatest thinker of his time. His death was a reminder that, while reason may illuminate the way, it is the collective opinion of the people that determines the course of events. Imagination, too, plays its part in shaping the world, but it is often opinion that turns the dream into reality or drives it into oblivion.

Drew’s words remind us that opinion holds more power than we often acknowledge. It is the opinion of kings and emperors, of political leaders and generals, that dictates the direction of history. Think of Julius Caesar, whose rise to power was not simply the result of military conquest or intellectual prowess, but of his ability to shape opinion. The people of Rome, swayed by his charm and leadership, granted him unprecedented power, and his opinion of himself as the ruler of Rome became the reality. The fate of empires is often determined not by the wisdom of rulers or the grandeur of their visions, but by the shifting tides of opinion that those in power can manipulate.

In more recent times, the role of opinion in shaping the world is even more apparent. The rise of political ideologies, the shaping of public opinion, has determined the fate of nations. Consider the reign of Adolf Hitler, whose power was not derived solely from military might but from his ability to mold and manipulate public opinion. The opinion of the masses, driven by propaganda, hatred, and fear, propelled him to power and brought about the horrors of war. It was not the truth of his ideology, nor the brilliance of his thought, that shaped the world—it was the opinion of the people, manipulated by words and images, that allowed him to reshape history.

Now, O children, consider your own lives. You may not rule nations or command armies, but the world you live in is shaped by the opinions you encounter every day. The choices you make, the paths you walk, are influenced by the opinions of those around you—your family, your friends, your community, and the broader world. In this, you must understand the power of opinion. While thought and imagination guide the individual, it is opinion that governs the collective. The greatest minds and the most creative souls can be stifled or propelled forward by the prevailing opinions of their time. This is not to say that thought and imagination have no place, for they are the seeds from which opinion grows. But we must recognize the weight that opinion carries, both in our personal lives and in the world at large.

The lesson, O children, is this: opinion shapes the world, for better or for worse. It is a force that drives change, for it is the shared opinion of a people that can overthrow governments or elevate them. It is the opinion of society that defines what is deemed acceptable, what is moral, and what is true. As you walk through the world, know that your imagination and thought are powerful tools, but it is the power of opinion that often guides the course of events. Do not be passive in the face of opinion; be active in shaping it. Speak your truth, express your visions, and create the opinion that will carry you toward the future you wish to see.

So, I say to you, O children, that in this world governed by opinion, you must never forget the power you hold to shape the opinions of those around you. Your voice, your actions, your beliefs, all have the power to influence the world. Use them wisely, for in shaping opinion, you shape the very world in which you live. The winds of opinion may blow in many directions, but the one who understands it can steer the ship of life, charting a course through the storm to calmer seas.