If Politics Quotes

The speaker introduces a theme that will be important later when the poem becomes more obviously political: balance. To be a good leader, the listener must not be "too" much of anything (too wise, too upright, etc.). Excess is no good.

The idea of talking with crowds makes us think of political speeches, while walking with kings suggests passing with social elites. A good leader must be able to get along with people from opposite ends of the social spectrum ("Kings" and "crowds").

Well this is an interesting political idea. One must be liked ("count with you"), but not too much. As with the rest of this poem, excess of all kinds is bad—in politics and in life.