--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tell us what complaint you have to make…" description: "\"“Tell us what complaint you have to make against us which justifies you in attempting to destroy us and the State? In the first place did we not bring ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/177/plato-103_children_tell-us-what-complaint-you-have-to-make_2316405.jpg" --- # Tell us what complaint you have to make against us which… ![“Tell us what complaint you have to make against us which justifies you in attempting to destroy us and the State? In the first place did we not bring you into existence? …[S]ince you were brought into the world and nurtured and educated by us, can you deny in the first place that you are our child…” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/177/plato-103_children_tell-us-what-complaint-you-have-to-make_2316405.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/177/plato-103_children_tell-us-what-complaint-you-have-to-make_2316405.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/177/plato-103_children_tell-us-what-complaint-you-have-to-make_2316405.jpg) > ““Tell us what complaint you have to make against us which justifies you in attempting to destroy us and the State? In the first place did we not bring you into existence? …\[S\]ince you were brought into the world and nurtured and educated by us, can you deny in the first place that you are our child and slave, as your fathers were before you?”” [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 speaker challenges the opponent to justify aggression against the state that created them. **In simple terms:** Question the morality of attacking one's own society. Key Takeaway Consider the roots of conflict before acting. Themes politics justice identity Mood critical provocative Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political debate - civil protest - education reform Key Concepts social contract ethics power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do we owe to societies that shape us? - Can rebellion be justified? A Different Perspective The argument assumes a simplistic master‑slave view, ignoring nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bring Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bring-existence-1216039/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen/) [Complaint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complaint/) [Complaint Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complaint-make-2167811/) [Educated Deny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educated-deny-5521307/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Political philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-philosophy/) [State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state/) [Statism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statism/) [Tell Complaint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-complaint-5521306/) ## Related quotes > [Know how to effectively voice a complaint or make a claim at a retail store.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-vos-savant/know-how-to-effectively-voice-a-complaint-or-make-a-claim-at-a-retail/) [Marilyn vos Savant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-vos-savant/) > [“We were put here on earth to act as agents of the Infinite, to bring into existence that which is not yet, but which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/we-were-put-here-on-earth-to-act-as-agents-of-the-infinite-to-bring/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [“In fact, we are servants of the Mystery. We were put here on earth to act as agents of the Infinite, to bring into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/in-fact-we-are-servants-of-the-mystery-we-were-put-here-on-earth-to/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [I tell you that as long as I can conceive something better than myself I cannot be easy unless I am striving to bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-tell-you-that-as-long-as-i-can-conceive-something-better-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Strange times are these in which we live when old and young are taught falsehoods in school. And the person that dares to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/strange-times-are-these-in-which-we-live-when-old-and-young-are-2/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [The Supreme Court told me that I should have filed a complaint within six months of the company's first decision to pay me less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilly-ledbetter/the-supreme-court-told-me-that-i-should-have-filed-a-complaint-within/) [Lilly Ledbetter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilly-ledbetter/) > [I am not possessive at all. In every relationship I have had, the girl has left me. And the fundamental complaint has been that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/i-am-not-possessive-at-all-in-every-relationship-i-have-had-the-girl/) [Shekhar Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shekhar-kapur/) > [I've got a new complaint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirvana/i-ve-got-a-new-complaint/) [Nirvana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirvana/) > [Deal with complaints. If you give the complaint your attention, you may be able to please this one person this one time - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ward/deal-with-complaints-if-you-give-the-complaint-your-attention-you-may/) [Susan Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ward/) > [Always welcome your customer's scorn. This rule says read the complaint letters. Categorize them. Decide how you are going to wipe them out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-silverstein/always-welcome-your-customer-s-scorn-this-rule-says-read-the/) [Michael J. Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-silverstein/) > [You have a valid complaint, and I do recognize it ... but you are reading into things a little bit. Just the same, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kirkman/you-have-a-valid-complaint-and-i-do-recognize-it-but-you-are-reading/) [Robert Kirkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kirkman/) > [I am basically a complainer and all the grounds for complaint have been swept out from under me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/i-am-basically-a-complainer-and-all-the-grounds-for-complaint-have/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [I'm proposing a change: love thy worker-bee. Celebrate the ones who toil without complaint, play on a team, construct the hive, produce the honey...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-lublin/i-m-proposing-a-change-love-thy-worker-bee-celebrate-the-ones-who/) [Nancy Lublin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-lublin/) > [I dish the dirt out, and I can take it. But why should my mother and children have to take it? In 20 years,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-clarkson/i-dish-the-dirt-out-and-i-can-take-it-but-why-should-my-mother-and/) [Jeremy Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-clarkson/) > [Gratitude is the law of increase, and complaint is the law of decrease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-scovel-shinn/gratitude-is-the-law-of-increase-and-complaint-is-the-law-of-decrease/) [Florence Scovel Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-scovel-shinn/) ## More by Plato > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [You may be sure, dear Crito, that inaccurate language is not only in itself a mistake: it implants evil in men's souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/you-may-be-sure-dear-crito-that-inaccurate-language-is-not-only-in/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“If men learn this, it will implant forgetfulness in their souls; they will cease to exercise memory because they rely on that which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/if-men-learn-this-it-will-implant-forgetfulness-in-their-souls-they/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/knowledge-which-is-acquired-under-compulsion-obtains-no-hold-on-the/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I do not think it is permitted that a better man be harmed by a worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-do-not-think-it-is-permitted-that-a-better-man-be-harmed-by-a-worse/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Any city, however small, is in fact divided into two, one the city of the poor, the other of the rich; these are at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/any-city-however-small-is-in-fact-divided-into-two-one-the-city-of/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody may believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-men-speak-ill-of-thee-live-so-as-nobody-may-believe-them/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“The love of man to woman is a thing common and of course, and at first partakes more of instinct and passion than of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-love-of-man-to-woman-is-a-thing-common-and-of-course-and-at-first/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Strange times are these in which we live when old and young are taught in falsehood's school, and the one man that dares to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/strange-times-are-these-in-which-we-live-when-old-and-young-are/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“He was a wise man who invented God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/he-was-a-wise-man-who-invented-god/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [For let me tell you, that the more the pleasures of the body fade away, the greater to me is the pleasure and charm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-let-me-tell-you-that-the-more-the-pleasures-of-the-body-fade-away/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“What shall we say about those spectators, then, who can see a plurality of beautiful things, but not beauty itself, and who are incapable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/what-shall-we-say-about-those-spectators-then-who-can-see-a-plurality/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Geometry existed before creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/geometry-existed-before-creation/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [When men speak ill of thee, live so that nobody will believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-men-speak-ill-of-thee-live-so-that-nobody-will-believe-them/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [We must, if we are to be consistent, and if we re to have a real pedigree herd, mate the best of our men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/we-must-if-we-are-to-be-consistent-and-if-we-re-to-have-a-real/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) [Explore all 1,278 Plato quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. 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