Until philosophers are kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy, and political greatness and wisdom meet in one, and those commoner natures who pursue either to the exclusion of the other are compelled to stand aside, cities will never have rest from their evils.

ἐὰν μή, ἦν δ᾽ ἐγώ, ἢ οἱ φιλόσοφοι βασιλεύσωσιν ἐν

Socrates

Quoted in Republic, by Plato

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Plato. Republic. 380 BC, bk. 5, sect. 473c.

Current Citation

Plato. The Republic. Translated by Desmond Lee. Penguin, 2007, bk. 5, l. 473c.