WHO IS THE AUTHORITY?

Even though we feel some of our views on some specific issues are correct and acceptable to our conscience, we may not come forward to express it openly because of the following reasons:
1. Our views may not be appreciated by the majority or the ruling government
2. Further, it may create unnecessary controversy against us.
3. We may even receive personal threats.
Many are happy to go with the view of the masses even at the cost of suppressing their own views for popularity or for money or some other favours.
With this being the case, how can we quote the many authors of the past, belonging to different times – who themselves could have been influenced by mass opinion, as an authority to establish a fact?