Every man Quote by Terry Pratchett
““The Ephebians believed that every man should have the vote (provided that he wasn't poor, foreign, nor disqualified by reason of being mad, frivolous, or a woman). Every five years someone was elected to be Tyrant, provided he could prove that he was honest, intelligent, sensible, and trustworthy. Immediately after he was elected, of course, it was obvious to everyone that he was a criminal madman and totally out of touch with the view of the ordinary philosopher in the street looking for a towel. And then five years later they elected another one just like him, and really it was amazing how intelligent people kept on making the same mistakes.””
About This Quote
Source Discworld: The Ephebian Republic, Terry Pratchett, 1995
The Ephebian system repeatedly elects tyrants despite strict qualifications, showing how intelligent people repeat historic mistakes.
In simple terms: Even with safeguards, societies repeat errors.
Key Takeaway
Learn from history to avoid repeating mistakes.
Themes
politics
history
human error
Mood
wry
critical
Type
satirical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- government
- organizational leadership
- education
Key Concepts
democratic failure
repetition of mistakes
societal blind spots
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do societies ignore past lessons?
- What mechanisms can truly prevent repeated errors?
A Different Perspective
Ideal qualifications alone cannot prevent corruption.
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