--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Plato says that the punishment which the…" description: "\"Plato says that the punishment which the wise suffer who refuse to take part in the government, is, to live under the government of worse men; and the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_abstaining_plato-says-that-the-punishment-which-the_2761044.png" --- # Plato says that the punishment which the wise suffer who… ![“Plato says that the punishment which the wise suffer who refuse to take part in the government, is, to live under the government of worse men; and the like regret is suggested to all the auditors, as the penalty of abstaining to speak,--that they shall hear worse orators than themselves.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_abstaining_plato-says-that-the-punishment-which-the_2761044.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_abstaining_plato-says-that-the-punishment-which-the_2761044.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_abstaining_plato-says-that-the-punishment-which-the_2761044.png) > “Plato says that the punishment which the wise suffer who refuse to take part in the government, is, to live under the government of worse men; and the like regret is suggested to all the auditors, as the penalty of abstaining to speak,--that they shall hear worse orators than themselves.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Wise individuals who avoid political participation suffer under worse leadership, and observers regret silence as they endure poorer rhetoric. **In simple terms:** Avoiding politics leads to worse outcomes for all. Key Takeaway Engage responsibly in civic life. Themes civics responsibility leadership Mood concerned reflective Type philosophical political When to use this quote - voting - public debate - community meetings - activism Key Concepts political philosophy social contract Questions to Reflect On - Should you speak up even if your voice is small? - What are the risks of political disengagement? A Different Perspective Silence may protect personal safety but allows decline. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstaining/) [Auditors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditors/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-worse-1669971/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Orators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orators/) [Penalties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penalties/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plato/) [Plato Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plato-says-2887327/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) [Punishment Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment-wise-1669973/) [Refuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse/) [Refuse Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse-government-1669972/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Says Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-punishment-3170057/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [The punishment which the wise suffer who refuse to take part in the government, is to live under the government of worse men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-punishment-which-the-wise-suffer-who-refuse-to-take-part-in-the/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [The punishment which the wise suffer who refuse to takepart in the government, is to live under the government of worse men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-punishment-which-the-wise-suffer-who-refuse-to-takepart-in-the/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Democracy is a very bad form of government ... but all the others are so much worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/democracy-is-a-very-bad-form-of-government-but-all-the-others-are-so/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The problem with leaderless uprisings taking over is that you don't always know what you get at the other end. If you are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/the-problem-with-leaderless-uprisings-taking-over-is-that-you-don-t/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Anything that the private sector can do, the government can do it worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dixie-lee-ray/anything-that-the-private-sector-can-do-the-government-can-do-it-worse/) [Dixie Lee Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dixie-lee-ray/) > [“Whether or not that’s how it is,” I said, “we must live according to what we believe, not the beliefs of others.” “The beliefs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-graham/whether-or-not-that-s-how-it-is-i-said-we-must-live-according-to-what/) [Jo Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-graham/) > [Plato says a multitude can never philosophize and hence can never recognize the seriousness of philosophy or who really philosophizes. Attempting to influence the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/plato-says-a-multitude-can-never-philosophize-and-hence-can-never/) [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) > [Plato says that the unexamined life is not worth living. But what if the examined life turns out to be a clunker as well?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/plato-says-that-the-unexamined-life-is-not-worth-living-but-what-if/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Plato says: One is not even one, two is one hardly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theopompus/plato-says-one-is-not-even-one-two-is-one-hardly/) [Theopompus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theopompus/) > [“Do you know, when I am with you I am not afraid at all. It is a magic altogether curious that happens inside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-bourne/do-you-know-when-i-am-with-you-i-am-not-afraid-at-all-it-is-a-magic/) [Joanna Bourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-bourne/) > [Nor at all can tell Whether I mean this day to end myself, Or lend an ear to Plato where he says, That men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/nor-at-all-can-tell-whether-i-mean-this-day-to-end-myself-or-lend-an/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [“All ancient philosophers, poets, and moralists agree that love is a striving, an aspiration of the “lower” toward the “higher,” the “unformed” toward the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-scheler/all-ancient-philosophers-poets-and-moralists-agree-that-love-is-a/) [Max Scheler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-scheler/) > [“Plato says that as one learns to love, the image of any specific beloved can be left behind for knowledge of the Good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-t-vollmann/plato-says-that-as-one-learns-to-love-the-image-of-any-specific/) [William T. Vollmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-vollmann/) > [“There is a plain under a dim sky. It is covered with gentle rolling curves that might remind you of something else if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-is-a-plain-under-a-dim-sky-it-is-covered-with-gentle-rolling/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I think my mother was like a small company which, because things are not ship-shape, keeps two sets of books, one for the auditors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lindsay-hogg/i-think-my-mother-was-like-a-small-company-which-because-things-are/) [Michael Lindsay-Hogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lindsay-hogg/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. 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When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Abstaining quotes > [Paraphrased: The way of al-Junayd includes among other things abstaining constantly from resisting God Most High in whatever happens to one, whether good or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-ata-allah/paraphrased-the-way-of-al-junayd-includes-among-other-things/) [Ibn Ata Allah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-ata-allah/) > [Give a child the habit of sacredly regarding the truth - of carefully respecting the property of others - of scrupulously abstaining from all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-brougham-1st-baron-brougham-and-vaux/give-a-child-the-habit-of-sacredly-regarding-the-truth-of-carefully/) [Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-brougham-1st-baron-brougham-and-vaux/) > [If there were only some way of contriving that a state or an army should be made up of lovers and their beloved, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/if-there-were-only-some-way-of-contriving-that-a-state-or-an-army/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It was palpable, all that wanting: Mother wanting something more, Dad wanting something more, everyone wanting something more. This wasn't going to do for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-taylor-fleming/it-was-palpable-all-that-wanting-mother-wanting-something-more-dad/) [Anne Taylor Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-taylor-fleming/) > [This is not what anyone wants to hear, just like somebody who wants to lose weight doesn't want to hear 'diet and exercise,' but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-klausner/this-is-not-what-anyone-wants-to-hear-just-like-somebody-who-wants-to/) [Julie Klausner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-klausner/) > [Abstaining so as really to enjoy, is the epicurism, the very perfection, of reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/abstaining-so-as-really-to-enjoy-is-the-epicurism-the-very-perfection/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [“Freedom from activity is never achieved by abstaining from action. Nobody can become perfect by merely ceasing to act. In fact, nobody can ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/freedom-from-activity-is-never-achieved-by-abstaining-from-action/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Virtue consists not in abstaining from vice, but in not desiring it.” She”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-wiltz/virtue-consists-not-in-abstaining-from-vice-but-in-not-desiring-it-she/) [Christine Wiltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-wiltz/) > [I'm the worst ad anyone could possibly be for abstaining from anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-roper/i-m-the-worst-ad-anyone-could-possibly-be-for-abstaining-from-anything/) [Matt Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-roper/) > [“Abstaining from speech marks him who is obeying the spontaneity of his nature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/abstaining-from-speech-marks-him-who-is-obeying-the-spontaneity-of/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [Jesus isn't coming for a church that's gritting her teeth, struggling to stay free from sin, secretly wishing she could indulge in a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bickle/jesus-isn-t-coming-for-a-church-that-s-gritting-her-teeth-struggling/) [Mike Bickle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bickle/) > [To be disciplined does not mean being silent, abstaining, or doing only what one thinks one may undertake without risk; it is not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-foch/to-be-disciplined-does-not-mean-being-silent-abstaining-or-doing-only/) [Ferdinand Foch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-foch/) > [Peace, if it ever exists, will not be based on the fear of war, but on the love of peace. It will not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-wouk/peace-if-it-ever-exists-will-not-be-based-on-the-fear-of-war-but-on/) [Herman Wouk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-wouk/) > [Temperance referred not abstaining, but going the right length and no further...of course it may be the duty of a particular Christian, or any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/temperance-referred-not-abstaining-but-going-the-right-length-and-no/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [My definition of sobriety is to be in full control and not feel drunk, but it's not abstaining for religious reasons or any other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-matthews/my-definition-of-sobriety-is-to-be-in-full-control-and-not-feel-drunk/) [Spencer Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-matthews/) [Browse all 30 Abstaining quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstaining/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Plato says that the punishment which the wise suffer who refuse to take part in the government, is, to live under the government of worse men; and the like regret is suggested to all the auditors, as the penalty of abstaining to speak,--that they shall hear worse orators than themselves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/plato-says-that-the-punishment-which-the-wise-suffer-who-refuse-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abstaining" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/plato-says-that-the-punishment-which-the-wise-suffer-who-refuse-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_abstaining_plato-says-that-the-punishment-which-the_2761044.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_abstaining_plato-says-that-the-punishment-which-the_2761044.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e33/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_abstaining_plato-says-that-the-punishment-which-the_2761044.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Plato says that the punishment which the wise suffer who refuse to take part in the government, is, to live…” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Plato says that the punishment which...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/plato-says-that-the-punishment-which-the-wise-suffer-who-refuse-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/plato-says-that-the-punishment-which-the-wise-suffer-who-refuse-to/#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 } } ] } ```