--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unless,” I said, “the philosophers rule…" description: "\"“Unless,” I said, “the philosophers rule as kings or those now called kings and chiefs genuinely and adequately philosophize, and political power and p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/plato-103_philosophy_unless-i-said-the-philosophers-rule-as-k_762391.jpg" --- # Unless,” I said, “the philosophers rule as kings or those… ![“Unless,” I said, “the philosophers rule as kings or those now called kings and chiefs genuinely and adequately philosophize, and political power and philosophy coincide36 in the same place, while the many natures now making their way to either apart from the other are by necessity excluded, there…” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/plato-103_philosophy_unless-i-said-the-philosophers-rule-as-k_762391.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/plato-103_philosophy_unless-i-said-the-philosophers-rule-as-k_762391.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/plato-103_philosophy_unless-i-said-the-philosophers-rule-as-k_762391.jpg) > ““Unless,” I said, “the philosophers rule as kings or those now called kings and chiefs genuinely and adequately philosophize, and political power and philosophy coincide36 in the same place, while the many natures now making their way to either apart from the other are by necessity excluded, there is no rest from ills for the cities, my dear Glaucon, nor I think for human kind, nor will the regime we have now described in speech ever come forth from nature, insofar as possible, and see the light of the sun.”” [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. Political stability requires philosophers to govern, aligning power with wisdom; otherwise cities remain plagued by conflict. **In simple terms:** Cities need wise rulers to avoid chaos. Key Takeaway Promote wise leadership. Themes politics philosophy governance justice Mood thoughtful serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government reform - education of leaders - public policy - civic engagement Key Concepts Platonism idealism political theory Questions to Reflect On - Can wisdom alone ensure effective rule? - What safeguards prevent misuse of power? A Different Perspective Philosophers may lack practical skills to manage complex societies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Philosophers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophers/) [Philosophers Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophers-rule-4287778/) [Philosophize Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophize-political-5910073/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Political power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-power/) [Power Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-philosophy-2581372/) [Said Philosophers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-philosophers-1004832/) ## Related quotes > [Until philosophers rule as kings or those who are now called kings and leading men genuinely and adequately philosophise, that is, until political power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/until-philosophers-rule-as-kings-or-those-who-are-now-called-kings/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Until philosophers are kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy, and political greatness and wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/until-philosophers-are-kings-or-the-kings-and-princes-of-this-world/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Nothing is too absurd to be said by some of the philosophers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nothing-is-too-absurd-to-be-said-by-some-of-the-philosophers/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The human race will have no respite from evils until those who are really philosophers acquire political power or until, through some divine dispensation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-human-race-will-have-no-respite-from-evils-until-those-who-are/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“If philosophy had the power to establish incontrovertible truths, immune to doubt, and if philosophers were as a rule wholly disinterested practitioners of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bentley-hart/if-philosophy-had-the-power-to-establish-incontrovertible-truths/) [David Bentley Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bentley-hart/) > [“Learning the lessons of past victories, as well as defeats, can arm a new generation of fighters for a better world. As Karl Marx…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/learning-the-lessons-of-past-victories-as-well-as-defeats-can-arm-a/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [“Despite such significant departures from the antimetaphysical and ahistorical heritage of the Vienna Circle, it still cannot be said that philosophers of science have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helena-sheehan/despite-such-significant-departures-from-the-antimetaphysical-and/) [Helena Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helena-sheehan/) > [the power of philosophy floats through my head.. light like a feather, heavy as lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/the-power-of-philosophy-floats-through-my-head-light-like-a-feather-2/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [The power of philosophy floats through my head, Light like a feather, Heavy as Led](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/the-power-of-philosophy-floats-through-my-head-light-like-a-feather/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [There will be no end to the troubles of states, or of humanity itself, till philosophers become kings in this world, or till those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/there-will-be-no-end-to-the-troubles-of-states-or-of-humanity-itself-2/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [There will be no end to the troubles of states,Or of humanity itself,Till philosophers become kings in this world,Or till those we now call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/there-will-be-no-end-to-the-troubles-of-states-or-of-humanity-itself/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“The society we have described can never grow into a reality or see the light of day, and there will be no end to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-society-we-have-described-can-never-grow-into-a-reality-or-see/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“He is divine -- but then I call all philosophers that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/he-is-divine-but-then-i-call-all-philosophers-that/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [A State would be happy where philosophers were kings, or kings philosophers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/a-state-would-be-happy-where-philosophers-were-kings-or-kings/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [States will never be happy until rulers become philosophers or philosophers become rulers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/states-will-never-be-happy-until-rulers-become-philosophers-or/) [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 Philosophers quotes > [“Mr. Pickwick was a philosopher, but philosophers are only men in armour, after all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/mr-pickwick-was-a-philosopher-but-philosophers-are-only-men-in-armour/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [It will sometimes strike a scientific man that the philosophers have been less intent on finding out what the facts are, than on inquiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sanders-peirce/it-will-sometimes-strike-a-scientific-man-that-the-philosophers-have/) [Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sanders-peirce/) > [If experiments are performed thousands of times at all seasons and in every place without once producing the effects mentioned by your philosophers, poets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/if-experiments-are-performed-thousands-of-times-at-all-seasons-and-in/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [For they, the philosophers, were considered teachers of right living, which is far more excellent, since to speak well belongs only to a few,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lactantius/for-they-the-philosophers-were-considered-teachers-of-right-living/) [Lactantius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lactantius/) > [Now that we do not have priests and philosophers any more, artists are the most important people in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/now-that-we-do-not-have-priests-and-philosophers-any-more-artists-are/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [“Socrates: Have you noticed on our journey how often the citizens of this new land remind each other it is a free country? Plato:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/socrates-have-you-noticed-on-our-journey-how-often-the-citizens-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Science will always raise philosophical questions like, is any scientific theory or model correct? How do we know? Are unobserved things real? etc. and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crane/science-will-always-raise-philosophical-questions-like-is-any/) [Tim Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crane/) > [Any two philosophers can tell each other all they know in two hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/any-two-philosophers-can-tell-each-other-all-they-know-in-two-hours/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [Philosopy is an important subject and has it uses, but when it comes to determining the purpose of life, even the Wisest philosophers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/philosopy-is-an-important-subject-and-has-it-uses-but-when-it-comes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Poets and philosophers are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/poets-and-philosophers-are-the-unacknowledged-legislators-of-the-world/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [“In the eighteenth century, philosophers considered the whole of human knowledge, including science, to be their field and discussed questions such as: Did the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/in-the-eighteenth-century-philosophers-considered-the-whole-of-human/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [The philosophers likewise assume that in Nature there is nothing in vain, so that everything that is not the product of human industry serves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/the-philosophers-likewise-assume-that-in-nature-there-is-nothing-in/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [I worked among many famous philosophers, and I tried to observe how they treated students. I knew which ones I wanted to be like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/i-worked-among-many-famous-philosophers-and-i-tried-to-observe-how/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [“Most philosophers do not want intellectual matters to reduce to a question of morality (obedience or rebellion to God's Word). They want to hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-l-bahnsen/most-philosophers-do-not-want-intellectual-matters-to-reduce-to-a/) [Greg L. Bahnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-l-bahnsen/) > [The philosophers of the Middle Ages demonstrated both that the Earth did not exist and also that it was flat. Today they are still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilhjalmur-stefansson/the-philosophers-of-the-middle-ages-demonstrated-both-that-the-earth/) [Vilhjalmur Stefansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilhjalmur-stefansson/) [Browse all 559 Philosophers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Unless,” I said, “the philosophers rule as kings or those now called kings and chiefs genuinely and adequately philosophize, and political power and philosophy coincide36 in the same place, while the many natures now making their way to either apart from the other are by necessity excluded, there is no rest from ills for the cities, my dear Glaucon, nor I think for human kind, nor will the regime we have now described in speech ever come forth from nature, insofar as possible, and see the light of the sun.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plato" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/unless-i-said-the-philosophers-rule-as-kings-or-those-now-called/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Philosophers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/unless-i-said-the-philosophers-rule-as-kings-or-those-now-called/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/plato-103_philosophy_unless-i-said-the-philosophers-rule-as-k_762391.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/plato-103_philosophy_unless-i-said-the-philosophers-rule-as-k_762391.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/plato-103_philosophy_unless-i-said-the-philosophers-rule-as-k_762391.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Unless,” I said, “the philosophers rule as kings or those now called kings and chiefs genuinely and…” — Plato", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Plato", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Unless,” I said, “the philosophers rule...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/unless-i-said-the-philosophers-rule-as-kings-or-those-now-called/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/unless-i-said-the-philosophers-rule-as-kings-or-those-now-called/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```