Public opinion deserves both: esteem and contempt.

Esteem because of its foundation. The true is present in it, more or less clouded.

Contempt because of its expressions. It cannot itself tell the true from the false.

What follows from this?

Whoever wants to achieve something great and rational must be independent of it. This is the first condition, in life as in science. And he can be sure: later public opinion will accept his work. It then makes it one of its prejudices.

The great man:

To find the true in public opinion is the task of the great man. He tells his age what it wants, and he carries it out. Whoever does not know how to despise public opinion will never achieve anything great.

Summary: Public opinion deserves esteem for its foundation and contempt for its expressions. Whoever wants something great must be independent of it. Later it makes his work into one of its prejudices.