“A kingdom founded on injustice never lasts.”
- c. 4 BC – AD 65
- Roman
- Philosopher, Statesman, Dramatist, Stoic Thinker, Advisor to Emperor Nero
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Quote
“A kingdom founded on injustice never lasts.”
Explanation
Power built on injustice is inherently unstable and doomed to collapse. Seneca the Younger affirms that a government or regime that rests on oppression, corruption, or exploitation may rise, but it cannot endure. Injustice corrodes trust, invites rebellion, and ultimately destroys the very foundations it depends upon.
This idea reflects the Stoic commitment to justice as a central virtue—not only for individuals, but for rulers and states. Seneca, who lived under the tyranny of Nero, understood firsthand how morally bankrupt leadership breeds instability. No matter how strong a kingdom appears, without justice, it lacks legitimacy and sustainability. Eventually, injustice invites consequences—whether through revolt, decay, or internal collapse.
In the modern world, this truth continues to unfold in politics and history. Tyrannies, dictatorships, and corrupt regimes often fall—not by chance, but because injustice generates the seeds of their undoing. Seneca’s insight remains a powerful warning: lasting authority must rest on fairness, truth, and the consent of the governed—or it will not last at all.
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