"The metaphor of the king as the shepherd of his people goes back to ancient Egypt. Perhaps the use of this particular convention is due to the fact that, being stupid, affectionate, gregarious, and easily stampeded, the societies formed by sheep are most like human ones"
About this Quote
The intent is double-edged. As a critic steeped in myth and archetype, Frye is tracking how political language borrows legitimacy from deep cultural storage: old images, old roles, old scripts. But he also wants you to notice what those scripts smuggle in. If a populace is a flock, then obedience is natural, dissent is a kind of straying, and coercion becomes “guidance.” The shepherd’s tools are never far from the wolf’s.
The subtext is a warning about how easily symbolism turns into social control. “Affectionate” and “gregarious” make the line sharper, not softer: our need to belong can be exploited; our warmth is a lever. “Easily stampeded” names the panic mechanics of mass life - rumor, spectacle, patriotic surge - without sounding like a textbook. Frye’s cynicism is disciplined: he’s not saying humans are literally sheep, but that our politics keeps choosing metaphors that make hierarchy feel like nature. That’s why the convention persists. It’s not tradition; it’s convenience.
Quote Details
| Topic | Leadership |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Frye, Northrop. (2026, January 16). The metaphor of the king as the shepherd of his people goes back to ancient Egypt. Perhaps the use of this particular convention is due to the fact that, being stupid, affectionate, gregarious, and easily stampeded, the societies formed by sheep are most like human ones. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-metaphor-of-the-king-as-the-shepherd-of-his-128111/
Chicago Style
Frye, Northrop. "The metaphor of the king as the shepherd of his people goes back to ancient Egypt. Perhaps the use of this particular convention is due to the fact that, being stupid, affectionate, gregarious, and easily stampeded, the societies formed by sheep are most like human ones." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-metaphor-of-the-king-as-the-shepherd-of-his-128111/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"The metaphor of the king as the shepherd of his people goes back to ancient Egypt. Perhaps the use of this particular convention is due to the fact that, being stupid, affectionate, gregarious, and easily stampeded, the societies formed by sheep are most like human ones." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/the-metaphor-of-the-king-as-the-shepherd-of-his-128111/. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
