Art Quote by Saint Augustine
“An apt and true reply was given to Alexander the Great by a pirate who had been seized. For when that king had asked the man what he meant by keeping hostile possession of the sea, he answered with bold pride. "What thou meanest by seizing the whole earth; but because I do it with a petty ship, I am called a robber, whilst thou who dost it with a great fleet art styled emperor."”
About This Quote
Source Historical anecdote: Alexander the Great, 4th century BC, recorded by later writers
A small pirate argues that scale determines moral judgment, not the act itself; power changes perception of the same behavior.
In simple terms: Power changes how actions are judged.
Key Takeaway
Recognize bias in labeling actions by size or status.
Themes
justice
power
perception
morality
Mood
critical
contemplative
Type
aphilosophical
ethical
historical
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- legal judgments
- media framing
- personal conflicts
- corporate behavior
Key Concepts
Relativism
ethical labeling
authority bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How does scale influence moral judgments?
- Can similar actions be judged differently in different contexts?
A Different Perspective
The analogy may oversimplify complex power dynamics and ignore intent.
![“...no one should marvel at the ease with which Alexander [the Great] kept possession of Asia, or at the difficulties which others, like Pyrrhus and many more, had in preserving their conquests. The difference does not arise from the greater or lesser ability of the conqueror, but from…” quote by Machiavelli Niccolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eaa/machiavelli-niccolo-50534_politics_no-one-should-marvel-at-the-ease-with-wh_1505570.jpg)
