philosopher king

the Platonic ideal of a ruler, philosophically trained and enlightened.

Origin of philosopher king

First recorded in 1920–25

So thought the philosopher-King of Prussia, when he let his regiments out of garrison to go and face the enemy.

Rambles and Recollections of an Indian Official |William Sleeman
A smile in Plato at the sight of his philosopher-King in such strange company might well be pardoned.

Political Thought in England from Locke to Bentham |Harold J. Laski
But if the President was not the philosopher-king, what was he?

The Economic Consequences of the Peace |John Maynard Keynes
Shall we, then, have the philosopher-king, as Europe dimly seems to half expect?

The World's Greatest Books, Vol XII. |Arthur Mee

Diceneus, philosopher-king of Dacia, perhaps Cassiodorus' ideal of a king, 32.

The Letters of Cassiodorus |Cassiodorus (AKA Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator)

philosopher-king

In the Republic by Plato, the ideal ruler, who has the virtue and wisdom of a philosopher.