--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A state is not a state if it belongs to…" description: "\"A state is not a state if it belongs to one man.\" — Sophocles" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/sophocles-370_belongs_a-state-is-not-a-state-if-it-belongs-to_971694.png" --- # A state is not a state if it belongs to one man. ![“A state is not a state if it belongs to one man.” quote by Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/sophocles-370_belongs_a-state-is-not-a-state-if-it-belongs-to_971694.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/sophocles-370_belongs_a-state-is-not-a-state-if-it-belongs-to_971694.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/sophocles-370_belongs_a-state-is-not-a-state-if-it-belongs-to_971694.png) > “A state is not a state if it belongs to one man.” [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A state loses legitimacy when it serves a single ruler rather than the people. **In simple terms:** A state isn’t a state if ruled by one man. Key Takeaway Demand shared governance. Themes politics legitimacy authority Mood reflective concerned Type philosophical political When to use this quote - government - corporate leadership - community groups Key Concepts social contract tyranny Questions to Reflect On - Who holds power in your community? - What checks prevent tyranny? A Different Perspective Power concentration can erode accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belongs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belongs/) [Belongs Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belongs-man-746521/) [State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state/) [State Belongs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-belongs-1868734/) [State State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-state-1071723/) ## Related quotes > [It is an error to suppose that a man belongs to himself. No man does. 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John Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-john-harrison/) > [Life belongs to man, but the meaning of life is beyond him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/life-belongs-to-man-but-the-meaning-of-life-is-beyond-him/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Freedom of the press belongs to the man who owns one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/freedom-of-the-press-belongs-to-the-man-who-owns-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I have long observed that a Bible which is falling apart usually belongs to a man who isn’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-davis/i-have-long-observed-that-a-bible-which-is-falling-apart-usually/) [Patrick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-davis/) > [Screw State! State's always on the side of the blacks. The hell with them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/screw-state-state-s-always-on-the-side-of-the-blacks-the-hell-with/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-credit-belongs-to-the-man-who-is-actually-in-the-arena-whose-face/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena..who errs, who comes short again and again; but who does actually strive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-credit-belongs-to-the-man-who-is-actually-in-the-arena-who-errs/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [A star for every State, and a State for every star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-charles-winthrop/a-star-for-every-state-and-a-state-for-every-star/) [Robert Charles Winthrop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-charles-winthrop/) > [All within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benito-mussolini/all-within-the-state-nothing-outside-the-state-nothing-against-the/) [Benito Mussolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benito-mussolini/) > [History belongs above all to the man...who needs models, teachers, comforters and cannot find them among his contemporaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/history-belongs-above-all-to-the-man-who-needs-models-teachers/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The premise of the Taker story is 'the world belongs to man'. … The premise of the Leaver story is 'man belongs to the world'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-quinn/the-premise-of-the-taker-story-is-the-world-belongs-to-man-the/) [Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-quinn/) ## More by Sophocles > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [God's dice always have a lucky roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/god-s-dice-always-have-a-lucky-roll/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [A fool cannot be an actor, though an actor may act a fool's part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-fool-cannot-be-an-actor-though-an-actor-may-act-a-fool-s-part/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Go then if you must, but remember, no matter how foolish your deeds, those who love you will love you still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/go-then-if-you-must-but-remember-no-matter-how-foolish-your-deeds/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Man's worst ill is stubbornness of heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/man-s-worst-ill-is-stubbornness-of-heart/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [A lie never lives to be old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-lie-never-lives-to-be-old/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [How dangerous can false reasoning prove!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/how-dangerous-can-false-reasoning-prove/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Why should man fear since chance is all in all for him, and he can clearly foreknow nothing? Best to live lightly, as one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/why-should-man-fear-since-chance-is-all-in-all-for-him-and-he-can/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“But life takes sudden twists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/but-life-takes-sudden-twists/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [When ice appears out of doors, and boys seize it up while it is solid, at first they experience new pleasures. But in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/when-ice-appears-out-of-doors-and-boys-seize-it-up-while-it-is-solid/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [For God hates utterly the bray of bragging tongues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/for-god-hates-utterly-the-bray-of-bragging-tongues/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I have nothing but contempt for the kind of governor who is afraid, for whatever reason, to follow the course that he knows is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/i-have-nothing-but-contempt-for-the-kind-of-governor-who-is-afraid/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“Not from Hades' black and universal lake can you lift him. Not by groaning, not by prayers. Yet you run yourself out in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/not-from-hades-black-and-universal-lake-can-you-lift-him-not-by/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [A fearful man is always hearing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-fearful-man-is-always-hearing-things/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [There is a point at which even justice does injury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/there-is-a-point-at-which-even-justice-does-injury/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) [Explore all 621 Sophocles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) ## More Belongs quotes > [“You may have the girlfriend title, but we both know who your heart truly belongs to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cutiplier/you-may-have-the-girlfriend-title-but-we-both-know-who-your-heart/) [Cutiplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cutiplier/) > [The more help a person has in his garden, the less it belongs to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-davies/the-more-help-a-person-has-in-his-garden-the-less-it-belongs-to-him/) [W. H. Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-davies/) > [“Everything on this earth belongs to God and therefore the more your dedication draws you closer to him, the more you will draw closer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/everything-on-this-earth-belongs-to-god-and-therefore-the-more-your/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Fear keep people away from what it belongs to them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bismark-frimpong/fear-keep-people-away-from-what-it-belongs-to-them/) [Bismark Frimpong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bismark-frimpong/) > [I have a belief: What belongs to you, comes to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cher/i-have-a-belief-what-belongs-to-you-comes-to-you/) [Cher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cher/) > [“Story is powerful. Story is fluid and it belongs to nobody.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-abani/story-is-powerful-story-is-fluid-and-it-belongs-to-nobody/) [Chris Abani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-abani/) > [The world belongs to those who persevere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/the-world-belongs-to-those-who-persevere/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [The world belongs to the articulate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-land/the-world-belongs-to-the-articulate/) [Edwin Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-land/) > [Meryl Streep belongs on anybody's list of greats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cavett/meryl-streep-belongs-on-anybody-s-list-of-greats/) [Dick Cavett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cavett/) > [The Very Last Person You Think About Right Before You Fall Asleep . That's who your heart Belongs To..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-very-last-person-you-think-about-right-before-you-fall-asleep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Tell the devil to go to hell... that's where he belongs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hart/tell-the-devil-to-go-to-hell-that-s-where-he-belongs/) [Mark Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hart/) > [The future belongs to he who has the bishops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/the-future-belongs-to-he-who-has-the-bishops/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [Parkour belongs to the ones who live it, not the ones who want to live thanks to it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-belle/parkour-belongs-to-the-ones-who-live-it-not-the-ones-who-want-to-live/) [David Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-belle/) > [One's own self-worth is tied to the worth of the community to which one belongs, which is intimately connected to humanity in general. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/one-s-own-self-worth-is-tied-to-the-worth-of-the-community-to-which/) [Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/) > [Liquid helium belongs to a class of fluids known as quantum fluids, as distinct from classical fluids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lee/liquid-helium-belongs-to-a-class-of-fluids-known-as-quantum-fluids-as/) [David Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lee/) [Browse all 375 Belongs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belongs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A state is not a state if it belongs to one man.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sophocles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-state-is-not-a-state-if-it-belongs-to-one-man/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belongs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-state-is-not-a-state-if-it-belongs-to-one-man/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/sophocles-370_belongs_a-state-is-not-a-state-if-it-belongs-to_971694.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/sophocles-370_belongs_a-state-is-not-a-state-if-it-belongs-to_971694.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/sophocles-370_belongs_a-state-is-not-a-state-if-it-belongs-to_971694.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A state is not a state if it belongs to one man.” — Sophocles", "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": "Sophocles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A state is not a state...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-state-is-not-a-state-if-it-belongs-to-one-man/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/a-state-is-not-a-state-if-it-belongs-to-one-man/#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 } } ] } ```