Skip to content

Eye Quote by Plutarch

“Nothing made the horse so fat as the king's eye.” quote by Plutarch
Download Open image
“Nothing made the horse so fat as the king's eye.”

Plutarch

About This Quote

Source Historical Text: Parallel Lives, 1st century AD

A king’s scrutiny can cause a horse to become overfed, illustrating how authority can lead to excess.

In simple terms: Authority can cause overindulgence.

Key Takeaway

Be wary of over‑monitoring.

Themes

power authority excess responsibility

Mood

reflective critical

Type

historical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • Animal care
  • management of resources
  • leadership styles
  • personal boundaries

Key Concepts

Greek history leadership dynamics psychology of control

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does scrutiny affect behavior?
  • When is oversight harmful?
A Different Perspective

Excessive oversight may create dependency or waste.

3.6 out of 5 (9 ratings)

More by Plutarch

Explore all 451 Plutarch quotes

More Eye quotes

Browse all 16,237 Eye quotes