"In democracies, of the more extreme type there has arisen a false idea of freedom which is contradictory to the true interests of the state. For two principles are characteristic of democracy, the government of the majority and freedom. Men think that what is just is equal; and that equality is the supremacy of the popular will; and that freedom means the doing what a man likes. In such democracies everyone lives as he pleases...But this is all wrong; men should not think it slavery to live according to the rule of the constitution; for itis their salvation."--Aristotle on the importance of the constitution in a democracy. From the series Great Ideas of Western Man.
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Object Details
- Artist
- Edgar Miller, born Idaho Falls, ID 1899-died 1993
- Sitter
- Aristotle
- Credit Line
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America
- 1950
- Object number
- 1984.124.214
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Painting
- Medium
- tempera on plaster
- Dimensions
- 34 3/8 x 29 5/8 in. (87.3 x 75.3 cm.)
- See more items in
- Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
- Department
- Painting and Sculpture
- Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Topic
- Figure group\male
- Dress\historic\classical dress
- Occupation\education\philosopher
- Allegory\civic\democracy
- Portrait male
- Record ID
- saam_1984.124.214
- Metadata Usage (text)
- Not determined
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7f7f7a43f-6d51-4d10-9340-4936f256bcde
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