"Public opinion is a compound of folly, weakness, prejudice, wrong feeling, right feeling, obstinacy, and newspaper paragraphs"

Robert Peel's quote uses a nuanced and somewhat crucial perspective on the nature of public opinion. By utilizing the word "compound", Peel shows that public opinion is not an easy or singular entity, but rather a complex amalgam of different aspects, each contributing to its general type and character. This complexity shows the varied and typically conflicting influences that form popular opinion.

The term "recklessness" recommends that popular opinion can typically be misguided or lack rationality. Individuals, en masse, may hold views that do not withstand sensible examination, driven by misunderstandings or insufficient info. "Weakness" implies vulnerability to affect; public opinion can be easily swayed by charming leaders, mind-blowing media, or popular patterns, often without deep understanding or crucial analysis.

"Prejudice" points to the predispositions that pervade public sentiment. These biases can be based on class, race, religion, or other social classifications, suggesting that viewpoints are regularly formed on bases besides unbiased truth. "Wrong feeling" and "best sensation" suggest that emotions, both misdirected and appropriate, play a significant function. While emotions like empathy and fairness are important to a simply society, uncontrolled emotions like worry or hatred can lead to unfair or harmful public opinions.

"Obstinacy" highlights the stubbornness with which people cling to their opinions, resistant to alter or challenge. This typically arises from an aversion to engage with opposing views or evidence-based thinking. Lastly, "paper paragraphs" highlight the media's effective role in shaping public opinion. This was specifically pertinent in Peel's time when papers were a primary source of information and could easily affect public sentiment, frequently focusing on marvelous stories over factual reporting.

In essence, Peel's quote highlights the complexity and typically unreasonable nature of public opinion, shaped by a host of elements that blend predispositions, feelings, and media influences into a complex mosaic that does not constantly align with reason or fact.