--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Plato assumes somehow that government is…" description: "\"Plato assumes somehow that government is a way in which you put unselfish and ungreedy men in charge of selfish and greedy men. But government is an in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/milton-friedman-616_assuming_plato-assumes-somehow-that-government-is_1309008.png" --- # Plato assumes somehow that government is a way in which… ![“Plato assumes somehow that government is a way in which you put unselfish and ungreedy men in charge of selfish and greedy men. But government is an institution whereby the people who have the greatest drive to get power over their fellow men, get in a position of controlling them. Look at the…” quote by Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/milton-friedman-616_assuming_plato-assumes-somehow-that-government-is_1309008.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/milton-friedman-616_assuming_plato-assumes-somehow-that-government-is_1309008.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/952/milton-friedman-616_assuming_plato-assumes-somehow-that-government-is_1309008.png) > “Plato assumes somehow that government is a way in which you put unselfish and ungreedy men in charge of selfish and greedy men. But government is an institution whereby the people who have the greatest drive to get power over their fellow men, get in a position of controlling them. Look at the record of government. Where are these philosopher kings that Plato supposedly was trying to develop?” [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Government tends to be run by those seeking power, not by selfless leaders, contradicting Plato’s ideal of philosopher‑kings. **In simple terms:** Power‑hungry people dominate politics, not altruistic rulers. Key Takeaway Expect power to corrupt, not idealize. Themes politics human nature idealism Mood cynical critical analytical Type theoretical political commentary When to use this quote - elections - corporate lobbying - public policy - leadership selection Key Concepts philosophy political theory power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑interest shape political leadership? - Can true altruism ever hold power? A Different Perspective Idealist visions often ignore practical self‑interest in politics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assuming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) [Fellow man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellow-man/) [Fellows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellows/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-philosopher-4323976/) [Greedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greedy/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Kings Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings-plato-4323977/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plato/) [Plato Assumes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plato-assumes-4323978/) [Plato Supposedly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plato-supposedly-4323979/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) [Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Unselfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unselfish/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Political freedom means the absence of coercion of a man by his fellow men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/political-freedom-means-the-absence-of-coercion-of-a-man-by-his/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Let me be patient, let me be kind, make me unselfish, without being blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauryn-hill/let-me-be-patient-let-me-be-kind-make-me-unselfish-without-being-blind/) [Lauryn Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauryn-hill/) > [Our goal is to develop our team, to earn what we get, to learn, to develop unselfish attitudes. 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The only power it has is to take from some and give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-government-doesn-t-have-any-money-the-only-power-it-has-is-to/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [What would the people who sold us goods do with the money? They'd get dollars. What would they do with the dollars? Eat them?!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/what-would-the-people-who-sold-us-goods-do-with-the-money-they-d-get/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [World trade depends on differences among countries, not similarities. Different countries are in different stages of development. It is appropriate for them to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/world-trade-depends-on-differences-among-countries-not-similarities/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Is there some society you know of that doesn't run on greed? You think Russia doesn't run on greed? You think China doesn't run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/is-there-some-society-you-know-of-that-doesn-t-run-on-greed-you-think/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Well first of all, tell me, is there some society you know of that doesn't run on greed? 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If the Chinese stick to their agreement to let Hong Kong go its own path, then China will also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/hong-kong-is-the-bellwether-if-the-chinese-stick-to-their-agreement/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Explore all 444 Milton Friedman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. 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Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) [Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Plato assumes somehow that government is a way in which you put unselfish and ungreedy men in charge of selfish and greedy men. But government is an institution whereby the people who have the greatest drive to get power over their fellow men, get in a position of controlling them. Look at the record of government. 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