Countrymen Quote by Pythagoras
“A stranger, if just, is not only to be preferred before a countryman, but a kinsman.”
About This Quote
Source Fragment: Ancient Greek Texts, c. 400 BC
Justice favors strangers over compatriots, treating them as kin.
In simple terms: Justice should be impartial to all.
Key Takeaway
Practice impartiality toward everyone.
Themes
justice
equality
humanity
Mood
reflective
idealistic
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- legal systems
- community service
- international relations
Key Concepts
ethical philosophy
universal rights
social cohesion
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies institutionalize impartial justice?
- What barriers prevent treating strangers as kin?
A Different Perspective
Human bias often contradicts this ideal.
![“[Grew up in Hawaii] that gave [Barack Obama] a kind of optimism, an ability to see things, you know, and frankly, an ability to trust, you know, in his fellow, you know, white countrymen in a way that I, for instance, you know, and the vast majority of black people I know never really could.” quote by Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/feb/ta-nehisi-coates-733_ability_grew-up-in-hawaii-that-gave-barack-obama_75931.jpg)
