AristotleAristotle, (384-322 BC) Greek philosopher

Aristotle Quote

“The three aims of the tyrant are, one, the humiliation of his subjects; he knows that a mean-spirited man will not conspire against anybody; two, the creation of mistrust among them; for a tyrant is not to be overthrown until men begin to have confidence in one another -- and this is the reason why tyrants are at war with the good; they are under the idea that their power is endangered by them, not only because they will not be ruled despotically, but also because they are too loyal to one another and to other men, and do not inform against one another or against other men -- three, the tyrant desires that all his subjects shall be incapable of action, for no one attempts what is impossible and they will not attempt to overthrow a tyranny if they are powerless.”

AristotleAristotle
~ Aristotle

Politics, Book V Chapter 11.

Ratings and Comments


Mike, Norwalk

I like it

Waffler, Smith

A littlte confusing but world is proving in Copenhagen that it has thrown off the mantle of tyranny and the bait and switch scams and BS of tyrannts and is moving into the full light of environmental enlightenment and leaving the bad and evil past behind us. Rejoice and again I say rejoice!

J Carlton, Calgary

This quote explains so many government policies that operate under the guise of progress its mind boggling. Divide and conquer has always been the rule of thumb. And now our so called leaders are in Copenhagen conspiring to tax us out of existence in the name of a trumped up and completely false religious dogma known as (the Church of) Global Warming.

jim k, austin

Waffler, you have written much nonsense, but this bilge takes the cake. J Carlton has it right so please take notice. The Copenhage meeting is to promote one of the biggest scams in history.

cal, lewisville, tx

Tyrants, yes, ones like Joesph Stalin and Lyndon Johnson. Waffler, mark my word. The Copenhagen deal will make some few a ton of money-and we the consumers will be paying it!

Mike, Norwalk

Waffler, a question. Because the world has cooled by everyone's measurement over the last eight years, and Antarctic's volume of ice is fairly static, what part of global warming is effecting only the Arctic's ice volume? Another question. Because ice expands when it freezes and shrinks when it melts (put it in a glass and try it yourself), will the Arctic's ice melt make the beeches bigger? I, don't know - just hmmm? You are the poster child for describing the global warming and other accepted fraudulent happenstance to be a religion. To modify an old saying, you'd step over a thousand truths just to believe one lie. Kind of an extension of your ill-logic, if your not with the majority, you're a want-a-be dictator.

Waffler, Smith

Everone who Mike? Antarctic ice shleves are breaking away real time. Arctic ice mostly floats on the sea, the sea warms, the ice melts. Antarctic's main ice is sitting on land, the ice shelfs on the coasts are melting. You have stated the factors in the problem but you have not the mental capacity to anayse the factors properly. When ice expands it does so into the atmosphere, that is skyward, when it melts it slops all over everything. That is exactly the problem my friend exactly the problem, and you mis-analysed it full time. I am not surprised at your mis-analysis, not surprised at all. It is based on your false presumption that scientists are some kind of supersitious relgion and you know better than everyone else. The rule of a minority is certainly a form of dictatorship with the rule of just one the final and absolute end of the asinine phenomenon.

J Carlton, Calgary

And the ice is melting due to the natural cycles of the planet. No amount of taxation is going to stop it. However the "real" data showing that we are more likely heading for another ice age than a warming spell may slow down the ice melt. Global Warming is a man made crisis only in a political sense. Its a tool of fear mongering and globalism that ought to be rejected on all levels. On the up side, maybe the whole charade will trigger a long over due peaceful rebellion.

Mike, Norwalk

Waffler, to start with, every scientist I can find and every agency I can quote from. For you who live's by the majority rule - the majority. Antarctic ice shelves are still breaking away as they always have but, in less quantities now. Waffler, fill a plastic bottle and stick it in your freezer - does it expand or shrink (it may move into the atmosphere as you suggest). hmm O I C. Waffler, what percentage on average of an iceberg is below / on top of the sea level. So what your saying is the iceberg that sunk the Titanic ripped off the Titanic's deck because the iceberg grew upward into the atmosphere. I stand corrected. Since the air temperature is / has been cooling over the last eight years, what is it that is warming the water to melt the Arctic's ice.

Ronw13, Oregon

Having seen such forces play out in a class room/association  before, it would do well to explain the Gulf between Plato and Aristotle, seeing so many Tyrannical despotic governments/churches embrace Aristotle rather than Plato. No need to name names. In changing the term from natural philosophy to empirical science, sets the stage for empirical review of a majority. Yet real science is not based upon consensus/majority rule. Aristotle was a student of Plato. 

Durham, Birmingham, AL

"...they will not attempt to overthrow a tyranny if they are powerless.” So take away their guns and give the Gestapo a monopoly on weapons.

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