Sic Semper Tyrannis: From Ancient Rome To Modern Times

The phrase sic semper tyrannis, which translates to thus always to tyrants or more liberally as this is what happens to tyrants, is a powerful and enduring motto with a long history of association with the rejection of tyranny and authoritarianism. The term sic semper tyrannis is a common expression that is derived directly from latin. Sic semper tyrannis is a sentence that literally translates into english as the phrase, thus always to tyrants. The phrase sic semper tyrannis is a lot like saying good riddance and implies that those who live their lives as tyrants will come to their. In the first, in 509 bce, brutus overthrows a tyrannical king named tarquin and founds the roman republic.

In contemporary parlance, it means tyrannical leaders will inevitably be overthrown. The phrase also suggests that bad but justified outcomes should, or eventually will, befall tyrants. It is the state motto of the u. s. Political, legal and moral scholars have repeated the justifications for the removal of tyrants from ancient times, from the middle ages, and during our more recent history. If in modern terms the tyrant is deemed guilty of what is called terrorism, then the tyrants killing is justified. [see, e. g. , johnson iii, boyd m. Sic semper tyrannis, meaning thus always to tyrants, is a phrase steeped in history, echoing through the halls of ancient rome and reverberating in the american revolution. Sic semper tyrannis, latin for thus unto tyrants, was famously spoken by john wilkes booth following the assassination of president abraham lincoln at fords theater in washington d. c. Booths words harkened back to the assassination of another supposed tyrant two thousand years before, gaius julius caesar.