--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The form of law which I propose would be…" description: "\"The form of law which I propose would be as follows: In a state which is desirous of being saved from the greatest of all plagues-not faction, but rath..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/plato-103_citizens_the-form-of-law-which-i-propose-would-be_1782101.jpg" --- # The form of law which I propose would be as follows: In a… ![“The form of law which I propose would be as follows: In a state which is desirous of being saved from the greatest of all plagues-not faction, but rather distraction-there should exist among the citizens neither extreme poverty nor, again, excessive wealth, for both are productive of great evil…” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/plato-103_citizens_the-form-of-law-which-i-propose-would-be_1782101.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/plato-103_citizens_the-form-of-law-which-i-propose-would-be_1782101.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/plato-103_citizens_the-form-of-law-which-i-propose-would-be_1782101.jpg) > “The form of law which I propose would be as follows: In a state which is desirous of being saved from the greatest of all plagues-not faction, but rather distraction-there should exist among the citizens neither extreme poverty nor, again, excessive wealth, for both are productive of great evil . . . Now the legislator should determine what is to be the limit of poverty or of wealth.” [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. A just society should avoid both extreme poverty and excessive wealth, as both can cause harm; laws should set limits on each. **In simple terms:** Balance wealth and poverty for societal health Key Takeaway Seek economic balance, limit extremes Themes justice economics ethics Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical political When to use this quote - government - taxation - welfare programs Key Concepts distribution social stability policy design Questions to Reflect On - What defines “excessive” wealth? - How to enforce limits fairly? A Different Perspective Too much regulation may stifle freedom ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Determine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determine/) [Distraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distraction/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Extreme poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extreme-poverty/) [Extremes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremes/) [Factions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/factions/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Form Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form-law-1871729/) [Inequality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequality/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law Propose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-propose-1871725/) [Legislator Determine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislator-determine-1871727/) [Legislators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislators/) [Limit Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limit-poverty-1871726/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Plague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plague/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Poverty Excessive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty-excessive-1871728/) [Productive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productive/) [Propose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propose/) [Saved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saved/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [There should exist among the citizens neither extreme poverty nor again excessive wealth, for both are productive of great evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/there-should-exist-among-the-citizens-neither-extreme-poverty-nor/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“Let us never weary of repeating, that to think first of the disinherited and sorrowful classes; to relieve, ventilate, enlighten, and love them; to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/let-us-never-weary-of-repeating-that-to-think-first-of-the/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [The teachers of our law, and to propose What might improve my knowledge or their own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/the-teachers-of-our-law-and-to-propose-what-might-improve-my/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [In legal terms, E.U. concepts of direct effect and the supremacy of E.U. law no longer form part of our law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suella-braverman/in-legal-terms-e-u-concepts-of-direct-effect-and-the-supremacy-of-e-u/) [Suella Braverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suella-braverman/) > [There is extreme poverty in Appalachia, where I was, and increasingly poverty is not just an urban thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/there-is-extreme-poverty-in-appalachia-where-i-was-and-increasingly/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [The key to ending extreme poverty is to enable the poorest of the poor to get their foot on the ladder of development. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-sachs/the-key-to-ending-extreme-poverty-is-to-enable-the-poorest-of-the/) [Jeffrey Sachs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-sachs/) > [“Why, look at me. I've worked my way up from nothing to a state of extreme poverty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/why-look-at-me-i-ve-worked-my-way-up-from-nothing-to-a-state-of/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [Tomorrow is Now... If we act, 2015 can be a year for the history books. It can be the year that we put the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-calvin/tomorrow-is-now-if-we-act-2015-can-be-a-year-for-the-history-books-it/) [Kathy Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-calvin/) > [If extreme poverty is allowed to increase, it will give rise to new problems, including new diseases that will spread from countries that cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/if-extreme-poverty-is-allowed-to-increase-it-will-give-rise-to-new/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [The majority of people who come to America come for a better life, just like the Italians, the Jews, the Irish, and the Polish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-walsh/the-majority-of-people-who-come-to-america-come-for-a-better-life/) [Marty Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-walsh/) > [We live increasingly in a world of haves and have-nots, of gated communities next to ghettos, of extreme poverty and unbelievable riches. Some enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/we-live-increasingly-in-a-world-of-haves-and-have-nots-of-gated/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [The essence of Africa's crisis is fundamentally its extreme poverty and therefore its inability to mobilize out of its own resources even the barest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-sachs/the-essence-of-africa-s-crisis-is-fundamentally-its-extreme-poverty/) [Jeffrey Sachs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-sachs/) > [Helping convene global stakeholders to establish a set of measurable, actionable and consensus-built goals focused on extreme poverty is invaluable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/helping-convene-global-stakeholders-to-establish-a-set-of-measurable/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [“The corporate government is completely okay with sending sickened people into extreme poverty for the rest of their lives by blatantly denying their genuine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-corporate-government-is-completely-okay-with-sending-sickened/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [It was shameful that, after Haiti, Colombia was the second most unequal country in Latin America. But we've achieved some things; the inequality is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-manuel-santos/it-was-shameful-that-after-haiti-colombia-was-the-second-most-unequal/) [Juan Manuel Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-manuel-santos/) ## 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 Citizens quotes > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [I will be a model prisoner, as I have been a model citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-edwards/i-will-be-a-model-prisoner-as-i-have-been-a-model-citizen/) [Edwin Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-edwards/) > [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [“The police ultimately pay the price for poor customer service when citizens become fearful of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-police-ultimately-pay-the-price-for-poor-customer-service-when/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Worship isn't destructive, Martin. I know that. I don't. I only know it's the core of his life. What else has he got? He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/worship-isn-t-destructive-martin-i-know-that-i-don-t-i-only-know-it-s/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [No greater victory can be won by citizens or soldiers than to transform temporary foes into permanent friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/no-greater-victory-can-be-won-by-citizens-or-soldiers-than-to/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) > [My dreams were always small and puny. All I ever needed was a little house with a little picket fence by the sea. Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/my-dreams-were-always-small-and-puny-all-i-ever-needed-was-a-little/) [Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [Without the ability to talk about government power, there's no way for citizens to make sure this power isn't being misused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/without-the-ability-to-talk-about-government-power-there-s-no-way-for/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What I will stand up for is what I think is right and for the best interests of the citizens of the state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-judge/what-i-will-stand-up-for-is-what-i-think-is-right-and-for-the-best/) [Patty Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-judge/) [Browse all 4,189 Citizens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The form of law which I propose would be as follows: In a state which is desirous of being saved from the greatest of all plagues-not faction, but rather distraction-there should exist among the citizens neither extreme poverty nor, again, excessive wealth, for both are productive of great evil . . . 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