--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The answer of Solon on the question…" description: "\"“The answer of Solon on the question, 'Which is the most perfect popular govemment,' has never been exceeded by any man since his time, as containing a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ce/thomas-paine-267_constitution_the-answer-of-solon-on-the-question-whic_2423610.png" --- # The answer of Solon on the question, 'Which is the most… ![“The answer of Solon on the question, 'Which is the most perfect popular govemment,' has never been exceeded by any man since his time, as containing a maxim of political morality, 'That,' says he, 'where the least injury done to the meanest individual, is considered as an insult on the whole…” quote by Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ce/thomas-paine-267_constitution_the-answer-of-solon-on-the-question-whic_2423610.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ce/thomas-paine-267_constitution_the-answer-of-solon-on-the-question-whic_2423610.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ce/thomas-paine-267_constitution_the-answer-of-solon-on-the-question-whic_2423610.png) > ““The answer of Solon on the question, 'Which is the most perfect popular govemment,' has never been exceeded by any man since his time, as containing a maxim of political morality, 'That,' says he, 'where the least injury done to the meanest individual, is considered as an insult on the whole constitution.”” [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A just government minimizes harm to its most vulnerable citizens, reflecting collective integrity. **In simple terms:** Protect the weakest. Key Takeaway Advocate for equitable policies. Themes politics ethics justice Mood serious thoughtful Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy debates - community organizing - law reform Key Concepts social contract human rights Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards protect the vulnerable? - How does individual harm affect societal health? A Different Perspective Balancing majority will can be complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answer Solon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer-solon-6141949/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Injury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/injury/) [Insult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insult/) [Insult Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insult-constitution-2434382/) [Maxim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maxim/) [Maxim Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maxim-political-6141950/) [Meanest Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meanest-individual-2434385/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Political Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-morality-821709/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Solon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solon-173753/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [ “\[ The answer of Solon to the question 'Which is the most perfect popular government ?'\] That where the least injury done to the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solon/the-answer-of-solon-to-the-question-which-is-the-most-perfect-popular/) [Solon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solon/) > [It is probably safe to say that over a long period of time, political morality has been as high as business morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-steele-commager/it-is-probably-safe-to-say-that-over-a-long-period-of-time-political/) [Henry Steele Commager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-steele-commager/) > [The civil magistrate cannot function without some ethical guidance, without some standard of good and evil. 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Bahnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-l-bahnsen/) > [“America acknowledged the greatness of Confucius through a trio of ancient lawgivers—Moses flanked by Confucius to his right and Solon on his left—on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-mendis/america-acknowledged-the-greatness-of-confucius-through-a-trio-of/) [Patrick Mendis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-mendis/) > [“He hoped and feared,' continued Solon, in a low. mournful voice; 'but at times he was very miserable, because he did not think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fitz-james-o-brien/he-hoped-and-feared-continued-solon-in-a-low-mournful-voice-but-at/) [Fitz James O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fitz-james-o-brien/) > [As some say, Solon was the author of the apophthegm, "Nothing in excess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/as-some-say-solon-was-the-author-of-the-apophthegm-nothing-in-excess/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) ## More by Thomas Paine > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. 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Let him believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/what-more-does-man-want-to-know-than-that-the-hand-or-power-that-made/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) [Explore all 772 Thomas Paine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) ## More Constitution quotes > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. 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