Friendship is the only thing in the world concerning the usefulness of which all mankind are agreed.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
In this statement, my Scipio, I build on your own admirable definition, that there can be no community, properly so called, unless it be regulated by a combination of rights. And by this definition it appears that a multitude of men may be just as tyrannical as a single despot and indeed this is the most odious of all tyrannies, since no monster can be more barbarous than the mob, which assumes the name and mask of the people.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True community requires a balance of rights to prevent tyranny, even from the many.
In this passage, Cicero emphasizes that a genuine community is defined by a system of rights that allows for the fair participation of its members. He warns that a collective group, or 'mob', can be just as oppressive as a single tyrant, highlighting the potential dangers of unchecked majority rule and the importance of protecting individual rights within a society.
Themes
CommunityTyrannyRightsMobDespotPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about democracy at a political forum, one might use Cicero's quote to emphasize the need for protecting minority rights.
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Advice in old age is foolish; for what can be more absurd than to increase our provisions for the road the nearer we approach to our journey's end.
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