The people have always some champion whom they set over them and nurse into greatness. This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when he first appears he is a protector.

οὐκοῦν ἕνα τινὰ ἀεὶ δῆμος εἴωθεν διαφερόντως προΐστασθαι ἑαυτοῦ, καὶ τοῦτον τρέφειν τε καὶ αὔξειν μέγαν;

Socrates

Quoted in Republic, by Plato

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More information about this quote

Topic

Tyranny Decline of democracy

Speaker

Socrates

Author

Plato

Source

Republic

Medium

Philosophical dialogue Dialogue

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

Greek

Time

375 BC 370s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Occupation

Philosopher

From

Greece Europe Ancient Greece

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Πολιτεία [Republic], written by Plato. c. 375 BCE.

Current Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Republic, written by Plato, translated by Desmond Lee. Penguin Classics, 2007.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Socrates about tyranny: “The people have always some champion whom they set over them and nurse into…”
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A quote by Socrates about tyranny: “The people have always some champion whom they set over them and nurse into…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote by Plato

For what should a man live, if not for the pleasures of discourse?

Plato

Phaedrus

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More information about this quote
Topic
Good conversation Purpose of life
Speaker
Phaedrus

Author

Plato
Source
Phaedrus
Medium
Philosophical dialogue Dialogue
Genre
Philosophical literature
Statement Type
Question
Language
Greek
Time
370 BC 370s BC 4th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Socrates. Quoted in Φαῖδρος [Phaedrus], written by Plato. c. 370 BC, section 258e.

Current Citation

Socrates. Quoted in "Phaedrus." Plato: Lysis; Symposium; Phaedrus, written by Plato, translated by Christopher Emlyn-Jones and William Preddy. Harvard University Press, 2022, sect. 258e.

Another quote about Tyranny

No tyrant need fear till men begin to feel confident in each other.

Aristotle

Politics

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More information about this quote
Topic
Seeds of revolution Revolution Tyranny Political theory Politics

Author

Aristotle
Source
Politics
Genre
Political literature Philosophical literature
Language
Greek
Time
350 BC 350s BC 4th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 1
Original Citation

Aristotle. Politics. 4th century BC, bk. 5.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Politics, translated by R. F. Stalley and Sir Ernest Barker. Oxford University Press, 2009, bk. 5.

Another quote from Classical antiquity

Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

God

Exodus 20:12

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More information about this quote
Topic
Parents and children Filial piety The Ten Commandments
Speaker
God
Source
Exodus The Bible
Medium
Scripture
Genre
Religious literature
Statement Type
Orders and commands
Language
Hebrew
Time
1405 BC 1400s BC 15th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 3
Citation

The Holy Bible: The King James Version. 1611. (Exodus 20:12).

Another quote from Republic

What I say is that "just" or "right" means nothing but what is to the interest of the stronger party.

Thrasymachus

Quoted in Republic, by Plato

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More information about this quote
Topic
Might makes right Justice Political theory Moral theory Morality
Speaker
Thrasymachus

Author

Plato
Source
Republic
Medium
Philosophical dialogue Dialogue
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
Greek
Time
375 BC 370s BC 4th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Thrasymachus. Quoted in Πολιτεία [Republic], written by Plato. c. 375 BCE.

Current Citation

Thrasymachus. Quoted in Republic, written by Plato, translated by Desmond Lee. Penguin Classics, 2007.

Another quote originally in Greek

In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.

Aristotle

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More information about this quote
Topic
Beauty of nature Nature

Author

Aristotle
Source
On the Parts of Animals
Genre
Scientific literature
Language
Greek
Time
350 BC 350s BC 4th century BC
Era
Classical antiquity
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Aristotle. Περὶ ζῴων μορίων [Parts of Animals]. c. 350 BC.

Current Citation

Aristotle. "Parts of Animals I." Aristotle: Generation of Animals & History of Animals 1, Parts of Animals 1, translated by C. D. C. Reeve. Hackett Publications, 2019.