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Aristotle on the Phony Religiocity of Tyrants
![[Image]](/media/image/blogs/misc/aristoteles_louvre2.jpg)
A Bust of Aristotle from the Louvre (2nd cen. BCE)
A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider God-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, wrongly believing that he has the Gods on his side.
–Aristotle, Politica bk v (ca. 340 BCE)
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