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Of all wild beasts preserve me from a tyrant; and of all tame a flatterer.
Ben Jonson
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Beware of those who seek power through manipulation, whether they are fierce or friendly.

This quote highlights the dangers posed by both tyrants, who wield power through fear and oppression, and flatterers, who may appear harmless yet manipulate others for personal gain. Jonson warns us to be cautious of both types of individuals, suggesting that true wisdom lies in recognizing and avoiding such characters in our lives.

Themes

TyrantFlattererWisdomManipulationCaution

In practice

Example use cases

During a leadership workshop discussing ethical leadership.

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