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About this quote

What does it mean?
People condemn injustice primarily because they fear being victims, not because they reject the act itself.
In plain terms
People hate injustice because they fear it happening to them.
What can you take from it?
Fear of victimization drives moral condemnation more than principle.

Where it applies

  • social analysis
  • moral reflection
  • civic discussion

Putting it to work

  • analyzing social behavior
  • teaching ethics

Questions to consider

  • Do you oppose wrong only to avoid it?

Another view

It ignores cases where people oppose injustice despite safety.

More from Plato

  1. When there is an income tax, the just man will pay more and the unjust less on the same amount of income.

    Permalink to quote #19
  2. The beginning is the most important part of the work.

    Permalink to quote #21
  3. But tell me, this physician of whom you were just speaking, is he a moneymaker, an earner of fees, or a healer of the sick?

    Permalink to quote #18

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  3. Aggression unopposed becomes a contagious disease.

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