Abstract: Discusses two concepts from ancient history and their relevance to the field of water in the modern age: 1) democratic governance at the will of the people was effective and responsive as long as there existed an ethos in administration, guiding beliefs even though unwritten into law; 2) democratic guidance was effective when equity-fairness to all-was not submerged to private or narrow interests. The Abel Wolman Distinguished Lecture, February 1990, National Research Council.