Quote of the day from Aristotle: “A tyrant must appear to have an extraordinary devotion to religion…” | Today’s news

“A tyrant must appear to have an extraordinary devotion to religion. The subjects are less afraid of unlawful treatment by a ruler whom they regard as God-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they are less likely to oppose him because they believe that he has the gods on his side.” — Aristotle

Greek philosopher Aristotle’s quote of the day from LiveMint serves as a timeless warning to the public: beware of leaders who loudly and uncharacteristically broadcast their religious devotion, especially when their actual government is authoritarian.

Piety is often not a reflection of their soul, but a deliberate armor designed to prevent scrutiny and silence dissent.

What does the quote mean?

Aristotle is not talking about true faith; talking about arming optics. A tyrant, a ruler who rules for his own benefit rather than the public good, is inherently susceptible to overthrow because his rule is unjust. In order to survive, a tyrant must artificially create a shield of legitimacy. The most effective shield, argues Aristotle, is religious devotion.

When was the quote uttered?

Aristotle wrote this in his foundational text on government, the Politics (specifically in Book V, Chapter 11), which was compiled roughly between 335 and 322 BC

Here is the full quote as it is most often translated from the original ancient Greek:

“…he should appear especially earnest in the service of the gods; for if the people think that the ruler is pious and reverent of the gods, they are less afraid of injustice at his hands, and also less willing to conspire against him, because they believe that the gods themselves are fighting on his side.

In Book V of the Politics, Aristotle analyzed the causes of government failure and revolution. Examining tyrannies—which he considered the worst form of government because they serve the ruler rather than the public—he offers a sort of “survival manual” for the tyrant trying to maintain power.

He argues that in order to avoid being overthrown, a tyrant must essentially “play the role” of a good and virtuous king. By acting deeply religious, the tyrant accomplishes two things at once:

How is it relevant today?

Aristotle’s observation is remarkably relevant to 21st century politics. Although the word “tyrant” may seem archaic, the political playbook he outlined is actively used by modern populists and authoritarian leaders around the world.

Today, the “appearance of extraordinary devotion” is less about appeasing the ancient gods and more about weaponizing faith to build an impenetrable political brand.