This king [Sesostris] divided the land among all Egyptians…
![“This king [Sesostris] divided the land among all Egyptians so as to give each one a quadrangle of equal size and to draw from each his revenues, by imposing a tax to be levied yearly. But everyone from whose part the river tore anything away, had to go to him to notify what had happened; he then…” quote by Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/fbb/herodotus-2844_divided_this-king-sesostris-divided-the-land-amo_1929309.jpg)
“This king [Sesostris] divided the land among all Egyptians so as to give each one a quadrangle of equal size and to draw from each his revenues, by imposing a tax to be levied yearly. But everyone from whose part the river tore anything away, had to go to him to notify what had happened; he then sent overseers who had to measure out how much the land had become smaller, in order that the owner might pay on what was left, in proportion to the entire tax imposed. In this way, it appears to me, geometry originated, which passed thence to Hellas.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Herodotus describes a ruler who organized land and taxes, noting this as the origin of geometry that later influenced Greek civilization.
In simple terms: A ruler’s land system led to geometry, later adopted by Greeks.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how administrative needs can spark scientific advances.
Themes
administration
geometry
taxation
civilization
innovation
Mood
analytical
historical
reflective
Type
philosophical
historical
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- tax collection
- agricultural management
- legal disputes
- education
Key Concepts
measurement
statecraft
mathematics
cultural transmission
Questions to Reflect On
- How do modern bureaucracies inspire scientific progress?
- What other inventions arose from governance?
A Different Perspective
The account may exaggerate causality between taxation and geometry.