Friendship Quote by Herodotus
““When the Many are rulers, it cannot but be that, again, knavery is bred in the state; but now the knaves do not grow to hate one another—they become fast friends. For they combine together to maladminister the public concerns. This goes on until one man takes charge of affairs for the Many and puts a stop to the knaves. As a result of this, he wins the admiration of the Many, and, being so admired, lo! you have your despot again;””
About This Quote
Source Book: Histories by Herodotus, 5th century BC
When the majority rules, corruption spreads as people become allies in misgovernance, eventually leading to a single strong ruler who is welcomed as a savior but becomes a despot.
In simple terms: Mass rule can breed corruption, leading to a despot.
Key Takeaway
Beware of majority rule that enables corruption.
Themes
politics
corruption
leadership
power
democracy
Mood
cautious
critical
reflective
Type
political
warning
historical
When to use this quote
- elections
- public policy
- community decision making
- grassroots movements
Key Concepts
social dynamics
collective responsibility
authoritarianism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies prevent the rise of despotism from majority rule?
- What safeguards protect against collective corruption?
A Different Perspective
If institutions are weak, the cycle may repeat despite vigilance.
![“They [the Persians] are accustomed to deliberate on matters of the highest moment when warm with wine; but whatever they in this situation may determine is again proposed to them on the morrow, in their cooler moments, by the person in whose house they had before assembled. If at this time also it…” quote by Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/db3/herodotus-2844_accustomed_they-the-persians-are-accustomed-to-deli_295502.jpg)
