--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is also a doubt as to what is to be…" description: "\"There is also a doubt as to what is to be the supreme power in the state: - Is it the multitude? Or the wealthy? Or the good? Or the one best man? Or a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fb/aristotle-78_best-man_there-is-also-a-doubt-as-to-what-is-to-b_1916657.png" --- # There is also a doubt as to what is to be the supreme… ![“There is also a doubt as to what is to be the supreme power in the state: - Is it the multitude? Or the wealthy? Or the good? Or the one best man? Or a tyrant?” quote by Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fb/aristotle-78_best-man_there-is-also-a-doubt-as-to-what-is-to-b_1916657.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fb/aristotle-78_best-man_there-is-also-a-doubt-as-to-what-is-to-b_1916657.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fb/aristotle-78_best-man_there-is-also-a-doubt-as-to-what-is-to-b_1916657.png) > “There is also a doubt as to what is to be the supreme power in the state: - Is it the multitude? Or the wealthy? Or the good? Or the one best man? Or a tyrant?” [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The ultimate authority in a state is debated: is it the many, the rich, the virtuous, the most capable, or a ruler? **In simple terms:** Who should hold power? Key Takeaway Question the basis of political authority. Themes politics authority governance philosophy Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - elections - policy making - civil discourse - revolution Key Concepts democracy oligarchy meritocracy tyranny Questions to Reflect On - What criteria best ensure just rule? - How does concentration of power affect liberty? A Different Perspective Power structures can be unstable or oppressive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-man/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Supreme power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supreme-power/) [Tyrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyrants/) ## Related quotes > [I think the state should be as small as possible and only there to pick up where people need help, such as the welfare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-allen/i-think-the-state-should-be-as-small-as-possible-and-only-there-to/) [Heidi Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-allen/) > [Never underestimate the power of the State to act out its own massive fantasies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-state-to-act-out-its-own-massive/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [ “All the power \[the State\] has is what society gives it, plus what it confiscates from time to time on one pretext or another;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-jay-nock/all-the-power-the-state-has-is-what-society-gives-it-plus-what-it/) [Albert Jay Nock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-jay-nock/) > [You get the same order of criminality from any State to which you give power to exercise it; and whatever power you give the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-j-nock/you-get-the-same-order-of-criminality-from-any-state-to-which-you/) [Albert J. 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At least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/one-single-act-of-defiance-against-power-against-the-state-that-seems/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [The power of the State must be invoked for restoring economic freedom just as it has been invoked for destroying economic freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/the-power-of-the-state-must-be-invoked-for-restoring-economic-freedom/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [ Having gathered all power to itself, \[the State\] has become the sole focus of all conflict, and it must construct totalitarian defences to match… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-jasay/having-gathered-all-power-to-itself-the-state-has-become-the-sole/) [Anthony de Jasay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-jasay/) > [In saying that without the power of the state, evil men would rule over the good. It is taken for granted that the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-nikolaevich-tolstoy/in-saying-that-without-the-power-of-the-state-evil-men-would-rule/) [Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-nikolaevich-tolstoy/) ## More by Aristotle > [The knowledge of the soul admittedly contributes greatly to the advance of truth in general, and, above all, to our understanding of Nature, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-knowledge-of-the-soul-admittedly-contributes-greatly-to-the/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Young men have strong passions and tend to gratify them indiscriminately. Of the bodily desires, it is the sexual by which they are most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/young-men-have-strong-passions-and-tend-to-gratify-them/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The body is at its best between the ages of thirty and thirty-five; the mind is at its best about the age of forty-nine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-body-is-at-its-best-between-the-ages-of-thirty-and-thirty-five/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The ensouled is distinguished from the unsouled by its being alive. 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