Private citizens
group · 4 works · 5 mentions · 11 anchored passages
private citizens · private persons · private men · citizen · citizens · men in private life · men in private station · men in private stations · private citizen
in the texts
Hiero
Ordinary citizens or private persons whose pleasures, protections, and relationships provide the standard of comparison with despotic life.
But despots are not at all concerned with missions to shows.
and so—thanks to the fatherland—every citizen lives in security.
Once again, to private citizens a truce or peace brings rest from war;
Nicomachean Ethics
Ordinary citizens contrasted with rulers regarding virtuous conduct
private citizens do not seem to be less but more given to doing virtuous actions than princes and potentates.
Against Aristogeiton II
Ordinary citizens whose legal treatment is contrasted with that of public leaders.
I can see that you, men of Athens, are of this opinion in your own behalf, for you have ere now decided many such informations laid against private men.
For just as on a voyage an error committed by a common sailor causes little damage, but, when the helmsman is at fault, he brings disaster on everyone aboard, so the faults of private persons cause loss not so much to the general public as to themselves, while the faults of rulers and statesmen come home to all citizens alike.
That was why Solon ordained that the penalties for private citizens should be slow, but for magistrates and political leaders swift, assuming that from the former one can get satisfaction even after some delay, but that one cannot wait for the latter, because there will be no prospect of punishment if the constitution is destroyed.
To Nicocles
Private persons are non-rulers whose life supplies ordinary forms of education and correction unavailable to kings.
next, the laws by which in each case their civic life is governed;
For when men are in private life, many things contribute to their education:
for those who educate men in private stations benefit them alone, but if one can turn those who rule over the multitude toward a life of virtue, he will help both classes, both those who hold positions of authority and their subjects;