Know that the philosopher has power over the stars, and not the stars over him.
ParacelsusRead
These decrees of yours are no different from spiders' webs. They'll restrain anyone weak and insignificant who gets caught in them, but they'll be torn to shreds by people with power and wealth.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques the authority of oppressive rules that only control the weak, while the powerful can easily disregard them.
Anacharsis uses a metaphor to compare oppressive decrees to spiders' webs, suggesting that such laws are effective at trapping the powerless but ultimately flimsy against those with strength and resources. This highlights the often imbalanced nature of power and authority in society, where the rules can be easily broken or ignored by those who have the means to do so, leaving the vulnerable at a disadvantage.
Themes
AuthorityPowerOppressionInequalityFreedom
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about social justice, one might reference this quote to illustrate the inequities present in legal systems.
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