A ship's crew mutinies against the only sailor who can read the stars

In Plato's Republic, Socrates likens democracy to a ship whose sailors brawl over the helm, flatter the crowd, and dismiss the one navigator who actually understands the stars and winds as a useless dreamer. His point: real skill at governing is rare and unpopular, so societies keep choosing loud captains over qualified ones.

— Plato, The Republic, Book VI — c. 375 BC, 488a-489d
Go deeper: get the book →

One credited idea per card. No filler. Swipe the rest in Savvy.

Keep swiping — it's free Works right in your browser. No app store needed.

More Philosophy

All Philosophy cards →
More from Plato →

Five ideas worth knowing, every week

The week's best cards and a puzzle, credited as always. Free, unsubscribe any time.