--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But the Lacedaemonians, who make it their…" description: "\"“But the Lacedaemonians, who make it their first principle of action to serve their country's interest, know not any thing to be just or unjust by any ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7aa/plutarch-597_action_but-the-lacedaemonians-who-make-it-their_2114167.jpg" --- # But the Lacedaemonians, who make it their first principle… ![“But the Lacedaemonians, who make it their first principle of action to serve their country's interest, know not any thing to be just or unjust by any measure but that.” quote by Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7aa/plutarch-597_action_but-the-lacedaemonians-who-make-it-their_2114167.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7aa/plutarch-597_action_but-the-lacedaemonians-who-make-it-their_2114167.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7aa/plutarch-597_action_but-the-lacedaemonians-who-make-it-their_2114167.jpg) > ““But the Lacedaemonians, who make it their first principle of action to serve their country's interest, know not any thing to be just or unjust by any measure but that.”” [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. Lacedaemonians prioritize national interest above moral judgments, showing a utilitarian view of ethics. **In simple terms:** They serve their country, ignoring concepts of justice. Key Takeaway Consider the role of collective goals in ethics. Themes politics ethics nationalism Mood critical historical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - Military strategy - government policy - community projects Key Concepts Utilitarianism civic duty Questions to Reflect On - Is national interest a sufficient moral compass? - How to reconcile patriotism with universal justice? A Different Perspective Such a stance can justify harmful actions for perceived greater good. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) ## Related quotes > [The first principle of all action is leisure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-first-principle-of-all-action-is-leisure/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Act that your principle of action might safely be made a law for the whole world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/act-that-your-principle-of-action-might-safely-be-made-a-law-for-the/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [Self-love is a principle of action; but among no class of human beings has nature so profusely distributed this principle of life and action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-d-israeli/self-love-is-a-principle-of-action-but-among-no-class-of-human-beings/) [Isaac D'Israeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-d-israeli/) > [Every man without passions has within him no principle of action, nor motive to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-adrien-helvetius/every-man-without-passions-has-within-him-no-principle-of-action-nor/) [Claude Adrien Helvetius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/) > [“The object of this Essay is to assert one very simple principle, as entitled to govern absolutely the dealings of society with the individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-object-of-this-essay-is-to-assert-one-very-simple-principle-as/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Promoting and protecting human rights internationally is not just a matter of principle or morality - doing so also serves our national security interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/promoting-and-protecting-human-rights-internationally-is-not-just-a/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [Trade has suddenly become massively unpopular. 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