The Republic by Plato

"The heaviest penalty for declining to rule is to be ruled by someone inferior to yourself."

Plato's Socratic dialogue is the cornerstone of Western philosophy. He asks the ultimate question: "What is Justice?" giving rise to the famous Allegory of the Cave.

It is a mind-expanding text that challenges our perception of reality, politics, and the ideal society. Essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the roots of Western thought.