--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An imbalance between rich and poor is the…" description: "\"An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.\" — Plutarch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/plutarch-597_imbalance_an-imbalance-between-rich-and-poor-is-th_201195.jpg" --- # An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most… ![“An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.” quote by Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/plutarch-597_imbalance_an-imbalance-between-rich-and-poor-is-th_201195.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/plutarch-597_imbalance_an-imbalance-between-rich-and-poor-is-th_201195.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/plutarch-597_imbalance_an-imbalance-between-rich-and-poor-is-th_201195.jpg) > “An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.” [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Extreme wealth gaps weaken societies and can cause their downfall. **In simple terms:** Rich‑poor gaps harm republics. Key Takeaway Address inequality to protect democracy. Themes politics economics social justice Mood concerned critical Type analytical historical When to use this quote - policy reform - public education - community development - taxation - wealth redistribution Key Concepts wealth distribution political stability historical cycles Questions to Reflect On - How does inequality affect civic participation? - What policies can reduce the gap? A Different Perspective Wealth gaps may be symptom of deeper cultural issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Political philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-philosophy/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Republic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republic/) [Rich and poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-and-poor/) ## Related quotes > [When the topic is growing income inequality, it's hard to prettify an imbalance between the rich and everybody else, so instead, conservatives try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/when-the-topic-is-growing-income-inequality-it-s-hard-to-prettify-an/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [We grew up very poor, and I hated being poor. I was the oldest of five kids, and I never got a pair of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-henderson/we-grew-up-very-poor-and-i-hated-being-poor-i-was-the-oldest-of-five/) [Paul Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-henderson/) > [“the primary purpose of sermon introductions is to produce imbalance for the sake of engagement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-l-lowry/the-primary-purpose-of-sermon-introductions-is-to-produce-imbalance/) [Eugene L. Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-l-lowry/) > [In order to address world economic imbalances, countries around the world should make joint efforts to adjust their economic structure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-jintao/in-order-to-address-world-economic-imbalances-countries-around-the/) [Hu Jintao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-jintao/) > [Too often, attention is diverted from the needs of populations, insufficient emphasis is placed on work in the fields, and the goods of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/too-often-attention-is-diverted-from-the-needs-of-populations/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [To be ordinary is the greatest virtue - because when you are just ordinary, nothing to claim, of this world or that, the ego…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/to-be-ordinary-is-the-greatest-virtue-because-when-you-are-just/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I loved her more than she loved me, that was the problem. A basic imbalance. Relationships like that never last, however hard you try.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-jewell/i-loved-her-more-than-she-loved-me-that-was-the-problem-a-basic/) [Lisa Jewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-jewell/) > [The balance of trade is an article of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-balance-of-trade-is-an-article-of-faith/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [I have an amazing spouse; we're a team. He works, and I work, and we sort of do this dance with each other so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rafferty/i-have-an-amazing-spouse-we-re-a-team-he-works-and-i-work-and-we-sort/) [Sarah Rafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rafferty/) > [You said love, I say chemical imbalance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-kelsey/you-said-love-i-say-chemical-imbalance/) [Ian Kelsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-kelsey/) > [“you cannot obtain balance by also seeking imbalance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-brody/you-cannot-obtain-balance-by-also-seeking-imbalance/) [Jessica Brody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-brody/) > [The pursuit of balance can create imbalance because sometimes something is true,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-okrent/the-pursuit-of-balance-can-create-imbalance-because-sometimes/) [Daniel Okrent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-okrent/) > [Depression is not caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, and it is not cured by medication. Depression may not even be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/depression-is-not-caused-by-a-chemical-imbalance-in-the-brain-and-it/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [We want to create, never mind the leaders or the bishops or chief rabbis or imams, or Popes. We want to create a grassroots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/we-want-to-create-never-mind-the-leaders-or-the-bishops-or-chief/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [It was sad, the imbalance of it all. Why do kids assume so much from one parent and hold the other to a lower,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/it-was-sad-the-imbalance-of-it-all-why-do-kids-assume-so-much-from/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) ## More by Plutarch > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The generous mind adds dignity to every act, and nothing misbecomes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-generous-mind-adds-dignity-to-every-act-and-nothing-misbecomes-it/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Painting is silent poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [King Agis said, "The Lacedæmonians are not wont to ask how many, but where the enemy are."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/king-agis-said-the-laced-monians-are-not-wont-to-ask-how-many-but/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Alexander wept when he heard from Anaxarchus that there was an infinite number of worlds; and his friends asking him if any accident had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/alexander-wept-when-he-heard-from-anaxarchus-that-there-was-an/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Proper listening is the foundation of proper living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/proper-listening-is-the-foundation-of-proper-living/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/painting-is-silent-poetry-and-poetry-is-painting-that-speaks/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Speech is like cloth of Arras opened and put abroad, whereby the imagery doth appear in figure; whereas in thoughts they lie but as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/speech-is-like-cloth-of-arras-opened-and-put-abroad-whereby-the/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [There were two brothers called Both and Either; perceiving Either was a good, understanding, busy fellow, and Both a silly fellow and good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/there-were-two-brothers-called-both-and-either-perceiving-either-was/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Why does pouring Oil on the Sea make it Clear and Calm? Is it that the winds, slipping the smooth oil, have no force,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/why-does-pouring-oil-on-the-sea-make-it-clear-and-calm-is-it-that-the/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [This excerpt is presented as reproduced by Copernicus in the preface to De Revolutionibus: "Some think that the earth remains at rest. But Philolaus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/this-excerpt-is-presented-as-reproduced-by-copernicus-in-the-preface/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [It is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds, though he risk everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/it-is-part-of-a-good-man-to-do-great-and-noble-deeds-though-he-risk/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [I am whatever was, or is, or will be; and my veil no mortal ever took up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/i-am-whatever-was-or-is-or-will-be-and-my-veil-no-mortal-ever-took-up/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [The pilot cannot mitigate the billows or calm the winds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/the-pilot-cannot-mitigate-the-billows-or-calm-the-winds/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“In Springtime, O Dionysos, To thy holy temple come, To Elis with thy Graces, Rushing with thy bull-foot, come, Noble Bull, Noble Bull”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/in-springtime-o-dionysos-to-thy-holy-temple-come-to-elis-with-thy/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) [Explore all 451 Plutarch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) ## More Imbalance quotes > [It was sad, the imbalance of it all. Why do kids assume so much from one parent and hold the other to a lower,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/it-was-sad-the-imbalance-of-it-all-why-do-kids-assume-so-much-from/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [We want to create, never mind the leaders or the bishops or chief rabbis or imams, or Popes. We want to create a grassroots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/we-want-to-create-never-mind-the-leaders-or-the-bishops-or-chief/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [Depression is not caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, and it is not cured by medication. Depression may not even be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/depression-is-not-caused-by-a-chemical-imbalance-in-the-brain-and-it/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [The pursuit of balance can create imbalance because sometimes something is true,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-okrent/the-pursuit-of-balance-can-create-imbalance-because-sometimes/) [Daniel Okrent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-okrent/) > [“you cannot obtain balance by also seeking imbalance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-brody/you-cannot-obtain-balance-by-also-seeking-imbalance/) [Jessica Brody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-brody/) > [You said love, I say chemical imbalance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-kelsey/you-said-love-i-say-chemical-imbalance/) [Ian Kelsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-kelsey/) > [I have an amazing spouse; we're a team. He works, and I work, and we sort of do this dance with each other so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rafferty/i-have-an-amazing-spouse-we-re-a-team-he-works-and-i-work-and-we-sort/) [Sarah Rafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rafferty/) > [The balance of trade is an article of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-balance-of-trade-is-an-article-of-faith/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [I loved her more than she loved me, that was the problem. A basic imbalance. Relationships like that never last, however hard you try.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-jewell/i-loved-her-more-than-she-loved-me-that-was-the-problem-a-basic/) [Lisa Jewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-jewell/) > [To be ordinary is the greatest virtue - because when you are just ordinary, nothing to claim, of this world or that, the ego…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/to-be-ordinary-is-the-greatest-virtue-because-when-you-are-just/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Too often, attention is diverted from the needs of populations, insufficient emphasis is placed on work in the fields, and the goods of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/too-often-attention-is-diverted-from-the-needs-of-populations/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [In order to address world economic imbalances, countries around the world should make joint efforts to adjust their economic structure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-jintao/in-order-to-address-world-economic-imbalances-countries-around-the/) [Hu Jintao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-jintao/) > [“the primary purpose of sermon introductions is to produce imbalance for the sake of engagement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-l-lowry/the-primary-purpose-of-sermon-introductions-is-to-produce-imbalance/) [Eugene L. Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-l-lowry/) > [“anyone who smiled all the time clearly suffered from a mental imbalance”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-l-jensen/anyone-who-smiled-all-the-time-clearly-suffered-from-a-mental/) [Danielle L. Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-l-jensen/) > [Feeling bad is caused by an imbalance. Don't lash out at the world. It makes you more unstable. Look for the cause in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/feeling-bad-is-caused-by-an-imbalance-don-t-lash-out-at-the-world-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 209 Imbalance quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plutarch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/an-imbalance-between-rich-and-poor-is-the-oldest-and-most-fatal/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Imbalance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/an-imbalance-between-rich-and-poor-is-the-oldest-and-most-fatal/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/plutarch-597_imbalance_an-imbalance-between-rich-and-poor-is-th_201195.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/plutarch-597_imbalance_an-imbalance-between-rich-and-poor-is-th_201195.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/875/plutarch-597_imbalance_an-imbalance-between-rich-and-poor-is-th_201195.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.” — Plutarch", "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": "Plutarch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "An imbalance between rich and poor...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/an-imbalance-between-rich-and-poor-is-the-oldest-and-most-fatal/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/an-imbalance-between-rich-and-poor-is-the-oldest-and-most-fatal/#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 } } ] } ```