--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The greatest slave is not he who is ruled…" description: "\"The greatest slave is not he who is ruled by a despot, great though that evil be, but he who is in the thrall of his own moral ignorance, selfishness, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/samuel-smiles-2037_despots_the-greatest-slave-is-not-he-who-is-rule_814862.png" --- # The greatest slave is not he who is ruled by a despot… ![“The greatest slave is not he who is ruled by a despot, great though that evil be, but he who is in the thrall of his own moral ignorance, selfishness, and vice.” quote by Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/samuel-smiles-2037_despots_the-greatest-slave-is-not-he-who-is-rule_814862.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/samuel-smiles-2037_despots_the-greatest-slave-is-not-he-who-is-rule_814862.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/samuel-smiles-2037_despots_the-greatest-slave-is-not-he-who-is-rule_814862.png) > “The greatest slave is not he who is ruled by a despot, great though that evil be, but he who is in the thrall of his own moral ignorance, selfishness, and vice.” [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True bondage is not external tyranny but the domination of one’s own ignorance, selfishness, and vice. **In simple terms:** Self‑ignorance enslaves more than dictators. Key Takeaway Cultivate knowledge and moral awareness. Themes freedom self‑mastery ethical living Mood thoughtful motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - political oppression - social injustice Key Concepts philosophical enlightenment personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What personal vices limit you? - How can you pursue moral education? A Different Perspective Ignorance can be harder to confront than external power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Despots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despots/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) ## Related quotes > [None can be free who is a slave to, and ruled by, his passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/none-can-be-free-who-is-a-slave-to-and-ruled-by-his-passions/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [People's lives are filled with vice and the trappings of it. Ambition, greed and selfishness all have to do with vice. Sooner or later,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/people-s-lives-are-filled-with-vice-and-the-trappings-of-it-ambition/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“Ignorance is the greatest slave master in the universe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/ignorance-is-the-greatest-slave-master-in-the-universe/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [The man who does as he likes is the greatest slave. The man who never does as he likes is God's free man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-campbell-morgan/the-man-who-does-as-he-likes-is-the-greatest-slave-the-man-who-never/) [G. Campbell Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-campbell-morgan/) > [The greatest slave in a kingdom is generally the king of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulke-greville-1st-baron-brooke/the-greatest-slave-in-a-kingdom-is-generally-the-king-of-it/) [Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulke-greville-1st-baron-brooke/) > [“Do not afflict others with anything that you yourself would not wish to suffer. if you would not like to be a slave, make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/do-not-afflict-others-with-anything-that-you-yourself-would-not-wish/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [It is the old practice of despots to use a part of the people to keep the rest in order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-the-old-practice-of-despots-to-use-a-part-of-the-people-to-keep/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Those who disagree with the dictator's plan have no other means to carry on than to defeat the despot by force of arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/those-who-disagree-with-the-dictator-s-plan-have-no-other-means-to/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Freedom is contagious. That's why despots fear it so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-owens/freedom-is-contagious-that-s-why-despots-fear-it-so-much/) [Bill Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-owens/) > [Nothing is more durable than the dynasty of Doubt; for he reigns in the hearts of all his people, but gives satisfaction to none…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/nothing-is-more-durable-than-the-dynasty-of-doubt-for-he-reigns-in/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Every State is a despotism, be the despot one or many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/every-state-is-a-despotism-be-the-despot-one-or-many/) [Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/) > [There are three kinds of despots. There is the despot who tyrannizes over the body. There is the despot who tyrannizes over the soul.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/there-are-three-kinds-of-despots-there-is-the-despot-who-tyrannizes/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [All ideas advanced to deal with the Florentine noise problem, the Florentine traffic problem, are Utopian, and nobody believes in them, just as nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/all-ideas-advanced-to-deal-with-the-florentine-noise-problem-the/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [If Despotism failed only for want of a capable benevolent despot, what chance has Democracy, which requires a whole population of capable voters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/if-despotism-failed-only-for-want-of-a-capable-benevolent-despot-what/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) ## More by Samuel Smiles > [Biographies of great, but especially of good men are most instructive and useful as helps, guides, and incentives to others. Some of the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/biographies-of-great-but-especially-of-good-men-are-most-instructive/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Diligence, above all, is the mother of good luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/diligence-above-all-is-the-mother-of-good-luck/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The women of the poorer classes make sacrifices, and run risks, and bear privations, and exercise patience and kindness to a degree that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-women-of-the-poorer-classes-make-sacrifices-and-run-risks-and/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Self-respect is the noblest garment with which a man can clothe himself, the most elevating feeling with which the mind can be inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/self-respect-is-the-noblest-garment-with-which-a-man-can-clothe/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The experience gathered from books, though often valuable, is but of the nature of learning; whereas, the experience gained from actual life is of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-experience-gathered-from-books-though-often-valuable-is-but-of/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-apprenticeship-of-difficulty-is-one-which-the-greatest-of-men/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The spirit of self-help is the root of all genuine growth in the individual; and, exhibited in the lives of many, it constitutes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-spirit-of-self-help-is-the-root-of-all-genuine-growth-in-the/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The wise man... if he would live at peace with others, he will bear and forbear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-wise-man-if-he-would-live-at-peace-with-others-he-will-bear-and/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Those who are the most persistent, and work in the true spirit, will invariably be the most successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/those-who-are-the-most-persistent-and-work-in-the-true-spirit-will/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The iron rail proved a magicians' road. It virtually reduced England to a sixth of its size. It brought the country nearer to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-iron-rail-proved-a-magicians-road-it-virtually-reduced-england-to/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [This extraordinary metal, the soul of every manufacture, and the mainspring perhaps of civilised society. Of iron.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/this-extraordinary-metal-the-soul-of-every-manufacture-and-the/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Man cannot aspire if he looked down; if he rise, he must look up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/man-cannot-aspire-if-he-looked-down-if-he-rise-he-must-look-up/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The life of a good man is at the same time the most eloquent lesson of virtue and the most severe reproof of vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-life-of-a-good-man-is-at-the-same-time-the-most-eloquent-lesson/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [It is a grand old name, that of gentleman, and has been recognized as a rank and power in all stages of society. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/it-is-a-grand-old-name-that-of-gentleman-and-has-been-recognized-as-a/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [“Many are the lives of men unwritten, which have nevertheless as powerfully influenced civilization and progress as the more fortunate Great whose names are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/many-are-the-lives-of-men-unwritten-which-have-nevertheless-as/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) [Explore all 189 Samuel Smiles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) ## More Despots quotes > [At a distance, we cannot conceive of the authority of a despot who knows all his subjects on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stendhal/at-a-distance-we-cannot-conceive-of-the-authority-of-a-despot-who/) [Stendhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stendhal/) > [If Despotism failed only for want of a capable benevolent despot, what chance has Democracy, which requires a whole population of capable voters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/if-despotism-failed-only-for-want-of-a-capable-benevolent-despot-what/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [All ideas advanced to deal with the Florentine noise problem, the Florentine traffic problem, are Utopian, and nobody believes in them, just as nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/all-ideas-advanced-to-deal-with-the-florentine-noise-problem-the/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [There are three kinds of despots. There is the despot who tyrannizes over the body. There is the despot who tyrannizes over the soul.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/there-are-three-kinds-of-despots-there-is-the-despot-who-tyrannizes/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Every State is a despotism, be the despot one or many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/every-state-is-a-despotism-be-the-despot-one-or-many/) [Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/) > [Nothing is more durable than the dynasty of Doubt; for he reigns in the hearts of all his people, but gives satisfaction to none…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/nothing-is-more-durable-than-the-dynasty-of-doubt-for-he-reigns-in/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Freedom is contagious. That's why despots fear it so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-owens/freedom-is-contagious-that-s-why-despots-fear-it-so-much/) [Bill Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-owens/) > [Those who disagree with the dictator's plan have no other means to carry on than to defeat the despot by force of arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/those-who-disagree-with-the-dictator-s-plan-have-no-other-means-to/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [It is the old practice of despots to use a part of the people to keep the rest in order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-the-old-practice-of-despots-to-use-a-part-of-the-people-to-keep/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Egotism erects its center in itself; love places it out of itself in the axis of the universal whole. Love aims at unity, egotismat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-wilhelm-von-schlegel/egotism-erects-its-center-in-itself-love-places-it-out-of-itself-in/) [August Wilhelm von Schlegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-wilhelm-von-schlegel/) > [Muslims, scholars or not, are on the side of the oppressed and never on the side of the oppressors. Some scholars claim they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/muslims-scholars-or-not-are-on-the-side-of-the-oppressed-and-never-on/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [Ignorant, unconscious and dishonourable part of a society want and like kings, dictators, padishahs and all sort of despots; educated, conscious and honourable part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/ignorant-unconscious-and-dishonourable-part-of-a-society-want-and/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Close alliances with despots are never safe for free states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demosthenes/close-alliances-with-despots-are-never-safe-for-free-states/) [Demosthenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demosthenes/) > [The consent of the governed" is more than a safeguard against ignorant tyrants: it is an insurance against benevolent despots as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-consent-of-the-governed-is-more-than-a-safeguard-against-ignorant/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [When the last of the Reformers died, religion, instead of emancipating the nations, had become an excuse for the criminal art of despots. Calvin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/when-the-last-of-the-reformers-died-religion-instead-of-emancipating/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) [Browse all 98 Despots quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despots/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The greatest slave is not he who is ruled by a despot, great though that evil be, but he who is in the thrall of his own moral ignorance, selfishness, and vice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Smiles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-greatest-slave-is-not-he-who-is-ruled-by-a-despot-great-though/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Despots" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-greatest-slave-is-not-he-who-is-ruled-by-a-despot-great-though/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/samuel-smiles-2037_despots_the-greatest-slave-is-not-he-who-is-rule_814862.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/samuel-smiles-2037_despots_the-greatest-slave-is-not-he-who-is-rule_814862.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d8/samuel-smiles-2037_despots_the-greatest-slave-is-not-he-who-is-rule_814862.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The greatest slave is not he who is ruled by a despot, great though that evil be, but he who is in the…” — Samuel Smiles", "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": "Samuel Smiles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The greatest slave is not he...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-greatest-slave-is-not-he-who-is-ruled-by-a-despot-great-though/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-greatest-slave-is-not-he-who-is-ruled-by-a-despot-great-though/#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 } } ] } ```