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Noticing that, he made a trail of the ring, to see if it…

“Noticing that, he made a trail of the ring, to see if it had that power; and he found that whenever he turned the collet inside, he was invisible, when he turned it outside, visible. After he found this out he managed to be appointed one of the messengers to the king; when he got there, he seduced…” quote by Plato
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““Noticing that, he made a trail of the ring, to see if it had that power; and he found that whenever he turned the collet inside, he was invisible, when he turned it outside, visible. After he found this out he managed to be appointed one of the messengers to the king; when he got there, he seduced the king's wife, and with her set upon the king, and killed him, and seized the empire. Then if there could be two such rings, and if the just man put one on and the unjust the other, no one, as it would be thought, would be so adamantine as to abide in the practice of justice, no one could endure to hold back from another's goods and not to touch, when it was in his power to take what he would even out of the market without fear, and to go into any house and lie with anyone he wished, and to kill or set free from prison those he might wish, and to do anything else in the world like a very god. And in doing so he would do just the same as the other; both would go the same way. Surely one would call this a strong proof that no one is just willingly but only under a strong compulsion, believing that it is not a good to him personally; since wherever each thinks he will be able to do injustice, he does injustice.””

Plato

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The story illustrates that power to become invisible can corrupt, showing that justice often depends on external constraints rather than internal virtue.

In simple terms: Power tempts people to act unjustly when they think they can get away with it.

Key Takeaway

Recognize how unchecked power erodes moral behavior.

Themes

justice power corruption ethics human nature

Mood

cautious thoughtful critical

Type

philosophical reflective ethical

When to use this quote

  • leadership
  • government
  • legal systems
  • personal ambition
  • ethical decision making

Key Concepts

philosophy political theory psychology

Questions to Reflect On

  • What mechanisms can keep powerful individuals accountable?
  • How does visibility affect moral choices?
A Different Perspective

Even with power, social norms and personal conscience can still restrain wrongdoing.

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