quis custodiet ipsos custodes

Latin

Pronunciation

Phrase

quis cū̆stōdiet ipsōs cū̆stōdēs?

  1. “Who guards the guards?”, “Who watches the watchers?”
    • late 1st or early 2nd century CE, Juvenal, Satura VI, lines 347–348:
      audio quid ueteres olim moneatis amici, 'pone seram, cohibe.' sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes? cauta est et ab illis incipit uxor.
      I hear always the admonishment of my friends: "Bolt her in, constrain her!" But who will guard the guardians? The wife plans ahead and begins with them.

Further reading

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