The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men

Summary

This quote suggests that if virtuous or well-intentioned individuals choose to remain apathetic and disengaged from matters concerning the government and society, the consequence is that they will end up being governed by those who are corrupt or have malicious intentions. It emphasizes the importance of active participation and the potential dangers of allowing unethical individuals to gain power due to the lack of vigilance and involvement from the righteous.