This quote by William Tecumseh Sherman is a commentary on the power of public opinion. He is suggesting that the voice of the people is not constantly dependable or trustworthy. He suggests that the general public can be easily swayed by popular viewpoint and can be quickly manipulated by those in power. He is suggesting that the voice of the individuals is not constantly a reliable source of truth and can be used to spread incorrect details. He is alerting versus blindly following the crowd and rather encourages individuals to think on their own and make their own decisions. He is suggesting that the general public should watch out for the power of popular opinion and not be swayed by it. He is warning against the dangers of blindly following the crowd and instead encourages people to think for themselves and make their own choices.