--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tis a Mistake to think this Fault…" description: "\"Tis a Mistake to think this Fault [tyranny] is proper only to Monarchies; other Forms of Government are liable to it, as well as that. For where-ever t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/061/john-locke-814_arbitrary_tis-a-mistake-to-think-this-fault-tyrann_1921223.jpg" --- # Tis a Mistake to think this Fault \[tyranny\] is proper only… ![“Tis a Mistake to think this Fault [tyranny] is proper only to Monarchies; other Forms of Government are liable to it, as well as that. For where-ever the Power that is put in any hands for the Government of the People, and the Preservation of their Properties, is applied to other ends, and made…” quote by John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/061/john-locke-814_arbitrary_tis-a-mistake-to-think-this-fault-tyrann_1921223.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/061/john-locke-814_arbitrary_tis-a-mistake-to-think-this-fault-tyrann_1921223.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/061/john-locke-814_arbitrary_tis-a-mistake-to-think-this-fault-tyrann_1921223.jpg) > “Tis a Mistake to think this Fault \[tyranny\] is proper only to Monarchies; other Forms of Government are liable to it, as well as that. For where-ever the Power that is put in any hands for the Government of the People, and the Preservation of their Properties, is applied to other ends, and made use of to impoverish, harass, or subdue them to the Arbitrary and Irregular Commands of those that have it: There it presently becomes Tyranny, whether those that thus use it are one or many.” [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power, when misused, creates tyranny regardless of who holds it, harming people and property. **In simple terms:** Misused power leads to oppression. Key Takeaway Guard against concentration of power. Themes politics power tyranny rights Mood cautious critical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - legislative bodies - corporate leadership - public policy - community governance Key Concepts social contract government legitimacy civil liberty Questions to Reflect On - How can societies ensure power remains accountable? - What safeguards protect against collective tyranny? A Different Perspective Power can be checked but not eliminated entirely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Forms of government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forms-of-government/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Monarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monarchy/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Preservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preservation/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Property rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property-rights/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyranny/) ## Related quotes > [Democracies have been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and in general been as short in their lives as they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/democracies-have-been-found-incompatible-with-personal-security-or/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-opposed-to-any-form-of-tyranny-over-the-mind-of-man/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Whenever legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/whenever-legislators-endeavor-to-take-away-and-destroy-the-property/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Whensoever, therefore, the legislative shall transgress this fundamental rule of society, and either by ambition, fear, folly, or corruption, endeavour to grasp themselves, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/whensoever-therefore-the-legislative-shall-transgress-this/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [The people cannot delegate to government the power to do anything which would be unlawful for them to do themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/the-people-cannot-delegate-to-government-the-power-to-do-anything/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [..every Man has a Property in his own Person. 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