"Dictatorship naturally arises out of democracy, and the most aggravated form of tyranny and slavery out of the most extreme liberty"
- Plato
About this Quote
Plato's quote suggests that democracy can cause dictatorship and severe liberty can lead to tyranny and slavery. He is recommending that excessive flexibility can lead to a lack of control and order, which can then cause a dictatorship. This is because when people have too much freedom, they can become selfish and power-hungry, leading to a scenario where someone or group has excessive control. Plato is warning that excessive liberty can lead to a situation where the people are no longer in control of their own destiny, and instead undergo the whims of a dictator. He is suggesting that a balance between liberty and control is necessary in order to maintain a healthy democracy.