Admirable Quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero
“In this statement, my Scipio, I build on your own admirable definition, that there can be no community, properly so called, unless it be regulated by a combination of rights. And by this definition it appears that a multitude of men may be just as tyrannical as a single despot and indeed this is the most odious of all tyrannies, since no monster can be more barbarous than the mob, which assumes the name and mask of the people.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: De Re Publica, 44 BC
A true community requires regulated rights; unchecked majority can become tyrannical like a despot
In simple terms: Rights protect against mob tyranny
Key Takeaway
Ensure rights balance majority rule
Themes
politics
philosophy
law
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- legislative bodies
- public assemblies
- civil rights movements
Key Concepts
social contract
tyranny of the majority
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards prevent majority oppression?
- How can rights be enforced without stifling democracy?
A Different Perspective
Ideal regulation is hard to achieve in practice
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