--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Until philosophers rule as kings or those…" description: "\"Until philosophers rule as kings or those who are now called kings and leading men genuinely and adequately philosophise, that is, until political powe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/plato-103_cities_until-philosophers-rule-as-kings-or-thos_2159801.jpg" --- # Until philosophers rule as kings or those who are now… ![“Until philosophers rule as kings or those who are now called kings and leading men genuinely and adequately philosophise, that is, until political power and philosophy entirely coincide, while the many natures who at present pursue either one exclusively are forcibly prevented from doing so…” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/plato-103_cities_until-philosophers-rule-as-kings-or-thos_2159801.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/plato-103_cities_until-philosophers-rule-as-kings-or-thos_2159801.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/plato-103_cities_until-philosophers-rule-as-kings-or-thos_2159801.jpg) > “Until philosophers rule as kings or those who are now called kings and leading men genuinely and adequately philosophise, that is, until political power and philosophy entirely coincide, while the many natures who at present pursue either one exclusively are forcibly prevented from doing so, cities will have no rest from evils,... nor, I think, will the human race.” [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. Society will remain troubled until rulers are true philosophers and philosophy guides politics, preventing division of thought and power. **In simple terms:** Peace needs philosopher‑rulers and unified governance. Key Takeaway Seek wisdom in leadership. Themes politics philosophy justice governance Mood thoughtful serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government reform - education policy - leadership training - public discourse Key Concepts Platonism ideal state virtue ethics Questions to Reflect On - Can true philosophers govern effectively? - What safeguards prevent power abuse? A Different Perspective Philosopher‑rulers are rare and may be impractical. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Human race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-race/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosophers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophers/) [Philosophers Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophers-rule-4287778/) [Philosophise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophise-1760297/) [Philosophise Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophise-political-4578289/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-power/) [Power Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-philosophy-2581372/) [Pursue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“Unless,” I said, “the philosophers rule as kings or those now called kings and chiefs genuinely and adequately philosophize, and political power and philosophy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/unless-i-said-the-philosophers-rule-as-kings-or-those-now-called/) [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“To philosophise is to learn how to die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-de-montaigne/to-philosophise-is-to-learn-how-to-die/) [Michael de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-de-montaigne/) > [Most of those who have been bitten by the philosophy bug shall know, philosophers philosophise mainly because they cannot help it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/most-of-those-who-have-been-bitten-by-the-philosophy-bug-shall-know/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [“In another of his most famous essays, Montaigne argued that to philosophise is to learn to die. I learned how to die with fatherhood.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-another-of-his-most-famous-essays-montaigne-argued-that-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Science is wonderful at destroying metaphysical answers, but incapable of providing substitute ones. Science takes away foundations without providing a replacement. Whether we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-putnam/science-is-wonderful-at-destroying-metaphysical-answers-but-incapable/) [Hilary Putnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-putnam/) > [“Death is the true inspiring genius, or the muse of philosophy, wherefore Socrates has defined the latter as θανάτου μελέτη. Indeed without death men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/death-is-the-true-inspiring-genius-or-the-muse-of-philosophy/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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 Cities quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [Surely, if Mother Nature had been consulted, she would never have consented to building a city in New Orleans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-zuckerman/surely-if-mother-nature-had-been-consulted-she-would-never-have/) [Mortimer Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-zuckerman/) > [Cities are 2% of the earth's crust, but they are 50% of the world's population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-ratti/cities-are-2-of-the-earth-s-crust-but-they-are-50-of-the-world-s/) [Carlo Ratti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-ratti/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [All Germany was in turmoil. Revolutionaries seized power in the cities of Munich, Hanover and Cologne. One regional German government after another was toppled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cross-giblin/all-germany-was-in-turmoil-revolutionaries-seized-power-in-the-cities/) [James Cross Giblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cross-giblin/) > [Nice is a city of ghosts and specters, but I hope not to become one of them right away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-modiano/nice-is-a-city-of-ghosts-and-specters-but-i-hope-not-to-become-one-of/) [Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) > [I know of not one Republican candidate that would not appear publicly with Mitt Romney and I know many Democrats that don't even want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/i-know-of-not-one-republican-candidate-that-would-not-appear-publicly/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [We will neglect our cities to our peril, for in neglecting them we neglect the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-will-neglect-our-cities-to-our-peril-for-in-neglecting-them-we/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [I didn't know the city at all, but I was so happy to be in New York I cried. I was so excited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/i-didn-t-know-the-city-at-all-but-i-was-so-happy-to-be-in-new-york-i/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [Outside of Paris, there is no hope for the cultured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/outside-of-paris-there-is-no-hope-for-the-cultured/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Dawn's faint breath breathes with your mouth at the ends of empty streets. Gray light your eyes, sweet drops of dawn on dark hills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/dawn-s-faint-breath-breathes-with-your-mouth-at-the-ends-of-empty/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Vienna is a handsome, lively city, and pleases me exceedingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-chopin/vienna-is-a-handsome-lively-city-and-pleases-me-exceedingly/) [Frederic Chopin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-chopin/) > [“We have grace of strength to work, to clear our cities of any dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-have-grace-of-strength-to-work-to-clear-our-cities-of-any-dirt/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I was too tired to think. I merely felt the town as a unique unreality. What was it? I knew -- the moon's picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-too-tired-to-think-i-merely-felt-the-town-as-a-unique-unreality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 7,153 Cities quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Until philosophers rule as kings or those who are now called kings and leading men genuinely and adequately philosophise, that is, until political power and philosophy entirely coincide, while the many natures who at present pursue either one exclusively are forcibly prevented from doing so, cities will have no rest from evils,... nor, I think, will the human race.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plato" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/until-philosophers-rule-as-kings-or-those-who-are-now-called-kings/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cities" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/until-philosophers-rule-as-kings-or-those-who-are-now-called-kings/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/plato-103_cities_until-philosophers-rule-as-kings-or-thos_2159801.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/plato-103_cities_until-philosophers-rule-as-kings-or-thos_2159801.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/plato-103_cities_until-philosophers-rule-as-kings-or-thos_2159801.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Until philosophers rule as kings or those who are now called kings and leading men genuinely and adequately…” — 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": "Until philosophers rule as kings or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/until-philosophers-rule-as-kings-or-those-who-are-now-called-kings/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/until-philosophers-rule-as-kings-or-those-who-are-now-called-kings/#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 } } ] } ```