The strongest poison ever known Came from Caesar's laurel crown.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Power symbols like crowns can corrupt more than common poisons.
- In plain terms
- Political power can be very poisonous.
- What can you take from it?
- Power corrupts even when celebrated.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can power ever be exercised without corruption?
Another view
It generalizes all political power as inherently toxic.
More from William Blake
He who shall teach the child to doubt The rotting grave shall ne'er get out.
Permalink to quote #132 He who doubts from what he sees Will ne'er believe, do what you please. If the sun and moon should doubt They'd immediately go out.
Permalink to quote #134 Every tear from every eye Becomes a babe in eternity.
Permalink to quote #131
Related quotes
Comrades! We must abolish the cult of the individual decisively, once and for all.
Nikita KhrushchevNikita Khrushchev quote #5 'Power corrupts. Absolute power is kind of neat.'
John LehmanJohn Lehman quote #5 The arbitrary rule of a just and enlightened prince is always bad. His virtues are the most dangerous and the surest form of seduction: they lull a people impe…
Denis DiderotDenis Diderot quote #8