Be a slave Quote by Aristotle
“Neither should men study war with a view to the enslavement of those who do not deserve to be enslaved; but first of all they should provide against their own enslavement, and in the second place obtain empire for the good of the governed, and not for the sake of exercising a general despotism, and in the third place they should seek to be masters only over those who deserve to be slaves.”
About This Quote
Advocates that war should not be used to subjugate the innocent; instead, societies must protect themselves, pursue power for the benefit of citizens, and only dominate those truly deserving of subjugation.
In simple terms: War must serve justice, not oppression.
Key Takeaway
Power must be justified and limited.
Themes
justice
political ethics
war theory
governance
legitimacy
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- policy formulation
- military strategy
- civil resistance
- public discourse
Key Concepts
state sovereignty
moral responsibility
authority limits
Practical Applications
- ethical foreign policy
- defensive national security
Questions to Reflect On
- What criteria determine who 'deserves' subjugation?
- How can societies ensure power serves the governed?
![“I know that [civilized men] do nothing but boast incessantly of the peace and repose they enjoy in their chains… But when I see [barbarous man] sacrifice pleasures, repose, wealth, power, and life itself for the preservation of this sole good which is so disdained by those who have lost it; when I…” quote by Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b98/jean-jacques-rousseau-418_born-free_i-know-that-civilized-men-do-nothing-but_1084258.jpg)
