might makes right en · X
Pronunciation
- [ˈmaɪ̯t me̞ɪ̯ks ˈɹaɪ̯t]
- /ˈmaɪ̯t meɪ̯ks ˈɹaɪ̯t/
- (General-American) audio
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English might is right, first attested in the 14th century. The concept is expressed by various classical authors; a similar argument is notably attributed to Thrasymachus by Plato in the Republic 340a (in Paul Shorey’s translation, “the advantage of the stronger is just”).
Meanings
- What is right or wrong is determined by power and strength; power justifies itself.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| might is right | alternative | lexicographic |
Relateds
the law · the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must · kratocracy · kraterocracy · everything · for my enemies · argumentum ad baculum · history is written by the victors · vae victis · for my friends
Translations (18)
ru кто сильнее, тот и прав (morality cannot question the powerful) · fr la raison du plus fort est toujours la meilleure (morality cannot question the powerful) · pl but see kto bogatemu zabroni (morality cannot question the powerful) · tr güçlü haklıdır (morality cannot question the powerful) · cmn 成王敗寇 /成王败寇 (morality cannot question the powerful) · fi vahvin määrää (morality cannot question the powerful) · vi mạnh được yếu thua (morality cannot question the powerful) · pt manda quem pode, obedece quem tem juízo (morality cannot question the powerful) · sh tko jači, taj kvači (morality cannot question the powerful) · tr güçlü olan haklıdır (morality cannot question the powerful) · ja 勝てば官軍負ければ賊軍 (morality cannot question the powerful) · cmn 败者为寇 (morality cannot question the powerful) · es la fuerza hace el derecho (morality cannot question the powerful) · cmn 成者為王，敗者為寇 /成者为王 (morality cannot question the powerful) · hi जिसकी लाठी उसकी भैंस (morality cannot question the powerful) · vi thắng làm vua, thua làm giặc (morality cannot question the powerful) · cmn 强權即公理 (morality cannot question the powerful) · it la ragione sta dalla parte dei forti (morality cannot question the powerful)
wikipedia: Thrasymachus · wikipedia: Plato · wikipedia: Paul Shorey · wikipedia: Republic (Plato)