Decision making Quote by Horace
“Strength, wanting judgment and policy to rule, overturneth itself.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: Odes, Book 1, Ode 5, 23 BCE
The desire for judgment and policy to dominate leads to its own reversal, showing that power structures can collapse under their own weight.
In simple terms: Power that seeks to control can cause its own downfall.
Beware of overreaching authority.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- government reform
- legal debates
- ethical leadership discussions
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What mechanisms prevent power from self‑destruction?
- When does regulation become oppression?
May ignore the role of public will in change.