--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As the government is, such will be the man." description: "\"As the government is, such will be the man.\" — Plato" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/plato-103_government_as-the-government-is-such-will-be-the-ma_2261793.jpg" --- # As the government is, such will be the man. ![“As the government is, such will be the man.” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/plato-103_government_as-the-government-is-such-will-be-the-ma_2261793.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/plato-103_government_as-the-government-is-such-will-be-the-ma_2261793.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/plato-103_government_as-the-government-is-such-will-be-the-ma_2261793.jpg) > “As the government is, such will be the man.” [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quality of governance reflects the character of its citizens; a corrupt state produces corrupt individuals and vice versa. **In simple terms:** Government mirrors its people; moral citizens create good governance. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal virtue to improve society. Themes politics morality leadership education Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - citizen education - public service - leadership training - ethical legislation Key Concepts Virtue ethics civic responsibility social contract Questions to Reflect On - What personal virtues most influence public policy? - How can societies nurture virtue at scale? A Different Perspective Idealistic; may overlook structural constraints and power dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [In such a government as ours no man is appointed to an office because he is the fittest for it--nor hardly in any other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/in-such-a-government-as-ours-no-man-is-appointed-to-an-office-because/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [In the absence of government each man learns to think, to act for himself, without counting on the support of an outside force which,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/in-the-absence-of-government-each-man-learns-to-think-to-act-for/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken-2/the-most-dangerous-man-to-any-government-is-the-man-who-is-able-to-6/) [H.L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken-2/) > [“All government, in its essence, is a conspiracy against the superior man: its one permanent object is to oppress him and cripple him. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken-2/all-government-in-its-essence-is-a-conspiracy-against-the-superior-3/) [H.L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken-2/) > [“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken-2/the-most-dangerous-man-to-any-government-is-the-man-who-is-able-to-5/) [H.L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken-2/) > [The man who has half a million of dollars in property... has a much higher interest in the government, than the man who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/the-man-who-has-half-a-million-of-dollars-in-property-has-a-much/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [Government of man by man in every form is oppression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/government-of-man-by-man-in-every-form-is-oppression/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In all sorts of government man is made to believe himself free, and to be in chains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/in-all-sorts-of-government-man-is-made-to-believe-himself-free-and-to/) [Stanisław I Leszczyński](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanis-aw-i-leszczy-ski/) > [“All it can see in an original idea is potential change, and hence an invasion of its prerogatives. 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