War gives the right to the conquerors to impose any condition they please upon the vanquished.
Julius CaesarRead
If you must break the law, do it to seize power: in all other cases observe it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that breaking the law may be justified if it is for gaining power, but otherwise, one should follow the law.
Julius Caesar's quote implies that there are rare circumstances, particularly related to leadership and power, where violating the law can be seen as acceptable. It acknowledges the complexities of governance and the necessity of authority, while simultaneously advocating for the rule of law in most situations. This reflects the moral dilemmas leaders may face when their ambitions conflict with legal frameworks.
Themes
LawPowerLeadershipGovernanceEthics
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about political ethics, one could quote Caesar to examine the limits of lawful behavior in the pursuit of leadership.
More from Julius Caesar
All quotes βI have always reckoned the dignity of the republic of first importance and preferable to life.
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As a rule, men worry more about what they can't see than about what they can.
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All bad precedents begin as justifiable measures.
Julius CaesarRead
No one is so brave that he is not disturbed by something unexpected.
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What we wish, we readily believe, and what we ourselves think, we imagine others think also.
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