A dogmatic belief in objective value is necessary to the very idea of a rule which is not tyranny or an obedience which is not slavery.
C. S. LewisRead
'Useful,' and 'necessity' was always 'the tyrant's plea'.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that those in power often justify their actions by claiming they are beneficial or necessary.
C. S. Lewis's quote highlights a critical perspective on how tyrants and rulers often use the guise of utility and necessity to justify their oppressive actions. It points to the idea that when leaders label their decisions as 'useful' or 'essential', it should raise skepticism as these are common rhetorical tools used to legitimize tyranny rather than genuine concern for the public.
Themes
TyrannyUtilityNecessityAuthorityPower
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on political philosophy, you might use this quote to discuss the ethics of leadership.
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I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. It doesn't change God - it changes me.
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The instrument through which you see God is your whole self. And if a man's self is not kept clean and bright, his glimpse of God will be blurred
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