Sic Semper Tyrannis: A Moral Dilemma?

The phrase sic semper tyrannis (thus always the tyrants) has a curious history. It was made famous (or rather, infamous) by john wilkins booth when, after shooting abraham lincoln to death in a theater, he jumped onto the stage shouting it. The state of virginia preserves the motto in its flag.

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When john wilkes booth put a bullet in abraham lincolns head at fords theatre on april 14th. 1865, he jumped over the balcony rail onto the stage, broke his leg, then stood up, faced the audience, and proclaimed sic semper tyrannis, or thus always to tyrants! Sic semper tyrannis is a phrase with a somewhat problematic history. Some sources have claimed that this was spoken by brutus as he delivered the knife blow to julius caesar. John wilkes booth is likewise said to have claimed the same utterance was made when he assassinated abraham lincoln.

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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. Sic semper tyrannis is a latin phrase meaning thus always to tyrants. 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.

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