Et ne savez-vous plus qu'il n'est princes ni rois Qu'elle daigne egaler a ses moindres bourgeois?
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Do you no longer know that he is neither prince nor king, yet he dares to equal his lowliest commoners?
- In plain terms
- A ruler pretends higher status while treating himself as an equal of the lowest.
- What can you take from it?
- Beware of false titles that mask true equality.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What does true equality mean for leaders?
- How does pretended status affect governance?
Another view
The statement may oversimplify complex power dynamics.
More from Pierre Corneille
Le Roi, juste et prudent, ne veut que ce qu'il peut.
Permalink to quote #59 Seigneur, si j'ai raison, qu'importe a qui je sois?
Permalink to quote #61 Faites que l'on vous craigne, et je ne craindrai rien.
Permalink to quote #58
Related quotes
Le Roi, juste et prudent, ne veut que ce qu'il peut.
Pierre CorneillePierre Corneille quote #59 Je ne veux point de rois qui sachent obeir.
Pierre CorneillePierre Corneille quote #64 Tis impossible to avail our selves of the genuine Powers of Eloquence, without examining in their Elements and first Principles, the Force and Harmony of Numbe…
John AdamsJohn Adams quote #1