Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Those with the best ability to lead should be the ones in power.
In plain terms
People who rule best should be the rulers.
What can you take from it?
Leadership should be based on ability.

Where it applies

  • elections
  • hiring managers
  • team organization

Putting it to work

  • evaluate leaders by skill
  • develop leadership skills

Questions to consider

  • How do you know who rules best?
  • Should ability be the only measure?

Another view

It assumes merit is easily identifiable and objectively measured.

More from Aristotle

  1. That judges of important causes should hold office for life is a disputable thing, for the mind grows old as well as the body.

    Permalink to quote #21
  2. The good citizen need not of necessity possess the virtue which makes a good man.

    Permalink to quote #23
  3. Even when laws have been written down, they ought not always to remain unaltered.

    Permalink to quote #20

Related quotes

  1. To govern men, you must either excel them in their accomplishments, or despise them.

    Benjamin DisraeliBenjamin Disraeli quote #1
  2. Nor is it any longer possible for you to give up this empire ... Your empire is now like a tyranny: it may have been wrong to take it; it is certainly dangerou…

    PericlesPericles quote #1
  3. The principle of collective leadership is elementary for a proletarian party and for a party of the Lenin type. Nevertheless, we must emphasize this old truth,…

    Anastas MikoyanAnastas Mikoyan quote #2