Common Quote by Aristotle
“Governments which have a regard to the common interest are constituted in accordance with strict principles of justice, and are therefore true forms; but those which regard only the interest of the rulers are all defective and perverted forms, for they are despotic, whereas a state is a community of freemen.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: Politics, Book III, c. 350 BC
Governments that prioritize the common good follow justice and are legitimate, whereas those serving only rulers are corrupt and despotic.
In simple terms: Just governments serve the people; selfish ones become tyrannical.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize common interest over elite gain.
Themes
justice
government
common good
tyranny
Mood
reflective
critical
concerned
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- policy making
- civic education
- activism
- leadership
- public administration
Key Concepts
political philosophy
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- What mechanisms ensure rulers serve the common interest?
- How can citizens detect hidden elite agendas?
A Different Perspective
Even just governments can become oppressive if power is unchecked.
![“[O]ur sages in the great [constitutional] convention... intended our government should be a republic which differs more widely from a democracy than a democracy from a despotism. The rigours of a despotism often... oppress only a few, but it is the very essence and nature of a democracy, for a…” quote by Fisher Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/76a/fisher-ames-19639_chiefs_o-ur-sages-in-the-great-constitutional-c_1555181.jpg)
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
