--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The people always have some champion whom…" description: "\"The people always have some champion whom they set over them and nurse into greatness. ... This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/plato-103_champion_the-people-always-have-some-champion-who_918752.jpg" --- # The people always have some champion whom they set over… ![“The people always have some champion whom they set over them and nurse into greatness. ... This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when he first appears he is a protector.” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/plato-103_champion_the-people-always-have-some-champion-who_918752.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/plato-103_champion_the-people-always-have-some-champion-who_918752.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/plato-103_champion_the-people-always-have-some-champion-who_918752.jpg) > “The people always have some champion whom they set over them and nurse into greatness. ... This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when he first appears he is a protector.” [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. Leaders who appear protective may become tyrants when power consolidates and accountability fades. **In simple terms:** Protectors can turn into tyrants. Key Takeaway Guard against unchecked authority. Themes politics power leadership Mood cautionary analytical Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government oversight - corporate governance - military command Key Concepts tyranny protective facade authority abuse Questions to Reflect On - What checks prevent power abuse? - How does charisma mask authoritarianism? A Different Perspective Power can corrupt even well‑intentioned guardians. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champion/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Nurse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nurse/) [Nurse Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nurse-greatness-1405821/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-champion-1405820/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plato/) [Protector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protector/) [Root Tyrant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/root-tyrant-1405822/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spring/) [Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyranny/) [Tyrant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyrant/) [Tyrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyrants/) [Worship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worship/) ## Related quotes > [This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when he first appears he is a protector.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/this-and-no-other-is-the-root-from-which-a-tyrant-springs-when-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Difficulty is a nurse of greatness-a harsh nurse, who rocks her foster children roughly, but rocks them in strength and athletic proportion. The mind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/difficulty-is-a-nurse-of-greatness-a-harsh-nurse-who-rocks-her-foster/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [Difficulty, my brethren, is the nurse of greatness - a harsh nurse, who roughly rocks her foster children into strength and athletic proportion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/difficulty-my-brethren-is-the-nurse-of-greatness-a-harsh-nurse-who/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [Adversity is the nurse of greatness which roughly rocks her patients back to health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/adversity-is-the-nurse-of-greatness-which-roughly-rocks-her-patients/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [Difficulty is the nurse of greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/difficulty-is-the-nurse-of-greatness/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [Martin Luther King didn't know he was going to have a day named after him; Muhammad Ali didn't know he was going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyron-woodley/martin-luther-king-didn-t-know-he-was-going-to-have-a-day-named-after/) [Tyron Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyron-woodley/) > [“You can recreate your world, do not give up until people call you a champion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osunsakin-adewale/you-can-recreate-your-world-do-not-give-up-until-people-call-you-a/) [Osunsakin Adewale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osunsakin-adewale/) > [Elizabeth Warren has been a champion for working people. She has been a champion for Native people. She has been a champion for education…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-haaland/elizabeth-warren-has-been-a-champion-for-working-people-she-has-been/) [Deb Haaland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-haaland/) > [“There are people that are to champion the campaign and advocacy against the cycle of ungodliness and injustice in every nation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/there-are-people-that-are-to-champion-the-campaign-and-advocacy/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [I'm the people's champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-briggs/i-m-the-people-s-champion/) [Shannon Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-briggs/) > [I like being the people's champion when it comes to dining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-richman/i-like-being-the-people-s-champion-when-it-comes-to-dining/) [Adam Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-richman/) > [I'm definitely gonna be the People's champion ... but I just ain't gonna be the champ the way you want me to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-m-definitely-gonna-be-the-people-s-champion-but-i-just-ain-t-gonna/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I'm trying to be the people's champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lopez/i-m-trying-to-be-the-people-s-champion/) [Robin Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lopez/) > [When the tyrant has disposed of foreign enemies by conquest or treaty and there is nothing to fear from them, then he is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-the-tyrant-has-disposed-of-foreign-enemies-by-conquest-or-treaty/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“Do you mean that the tyrant will dare to use violence against the people who fathered him, and raise his hand against them if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/do-you-mean-that-the-tyrant-will-dare-to-use-violence-against-the/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## 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 Champion quotes > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [I have to be No. 1 pound-for-pound champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/i-have-to-be-no-1-pound-for-pound-champion/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [I still have to unify my division and basically become the undefeated welterweight champion of the world. I can't lose. It is more added…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-spence-jr/i-still-have-to-unify-my-division-and-basically-become-the-undefeated/) [Errol Spence Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-spence-jr/) > [Palindrome as well. My sister's name is Hannah. Father liked word games. He was fourteen times World Scrabble Champion. When he died, we buried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/palindrome-as-well-my-sister-s-name-is-hannah-father-liked-word-games/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [ Bernie \[Ecclestone\] is the commercial rights holder so the more outgoing the champion is, the better. Of course. I also do think about our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-ecclestone/bernie-ecclestone-is-the-commercial-rights-holder-so-the-more/) [Bernie Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-ecclestone/) > [The truth is the Vintage Vitor never left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitor-belfort/the-truth-is-the-vintage-vitor-never-left/) [Vitor Belfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitor-belfort/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [Winners are born, Champions are made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-falcon-scott/winners-are-born-champions-are-made/) [Robert Falcon Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-falcon-scott/) > [It's interesting that the greatest minds of computer science, the founding fathers, like Alan Turing and Claude Shannon and Norbert Wiener, they all looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/it-s-interesting-that-the-greatest-minds-of-computer-science-the/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [To be a champion long-distance runner you have to run on the edge of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toshihiko-seko/to-be-a-champion-long-distance-runner-you-have-to-run-on-the-edge-of/) [Toshihiko Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toshihiko-seko/) > [“There is a scene in one of the Rocky movies where after the match Apollo Creed and Rocky are waiting for the scoring of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-passaro/there-is-a-scene-in-one-of-the-rocky-movies-where-after-the-match/) [John A. 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