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Who will watch the watchmen? 

"Who will watch the watchmen?" is a translation of the phrase "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" made famous by the Roman Poet Juvenal in his satires.

Contextually it referred to the notion that male guards should not guard women against sexual assault as they themselves are capable of committing such crimes, the only solution would be to have the women guarded by eunuchs.

Generally though it is considered the embodiment of the philosophical question as to where ultimate power should reside. It can be attributed as the basis, or at least the summarization, of the United States' concept of division of political power. At any given moment a watchman is watched by two watchmen thus eliminating the possibility of corruption.

The phrase is also well known as the basis for the graphic novel, and film, Watchmen.

Synonymous phrases include:
Who will guard the guards?
Who will protect the protectors?
Who will police the police?
"Privacy is a farce, if you have done nothing wrong then you have nothing to hide. Surveillance is the only way to assure that no crime goes unpunished."

"But who will watch the watchmen? Themselves?"

The Watchmaker (from the legend of 11:11) 

The watchmaker was a man who treated his creations like children. When he was too old to work, he told his ā€œchildrenā€ and they gave him immortality. Now he magically mends clocks and is like the ā€œmailmanā€ for good wishes. When a person makes good wishes on 11:11 a.m. or p.m., he delivers the ā€œgood newsā€ if the wish is granted.
The Watchmaker (from the legend of 11:11) is from the book, "The Wishing Year, a legend for most ages" by Crystal

pagesbycrystal.weebly.com

The Watchmen 

1. Erroneous title for the seminal 1985 comic series and currently unreleased movie Watchmen.It is common for the press, non fans or new fans to misname the title. Making the mistake triggers a massive bombardment of corrections and sometimes insults by fanatical devotees of the story.
2. Vigilantes/dictators; unregulated and unchallenged positions of authority.
1. "Fans of the the obscure comic series and co-creator Alan Moore "The Watchmen" about a superhero team claim that the comic is unfilmable"

"Comment: THERE IS NO "THE". THE WATCHMEN ARE NOT A SUPERHERO TEAM. DO SOME RESEARCH YOU FUCKING PHILISTINE!

2. "Who watches the Watchmen?" -Roman Poet Juvenal
The Watchmen by The Amazing AO February 17, 2009

Who watches the watchmen 

Something you get a group of people to chant when you feel a law enforcement officer is abusing their power.
ow why are you hurting me officer I’m innocent.

Hey guys look police brutality!
WHO WATCHES THE WATCHMEN WHO WATCHES THE WATCHMEN!!!
More from Urban Dictionary

proper lad 

a lad that is such a lad that he is a proper lad
person1:did you see bob
person2: ya he was a proper lad
Word of the Day on October 29, 2026
The number of years you are still sexually active
While our lifespan is the number of years we will live, our healthspan is the number of healthy years we will have and our sexspan is is the number of years we will continue to be healthy enough to continue having an active sex life.
sexspan by Dr Kat April 21, 2022
Word of the Day on October 28, 2026
A lighthearted reaction upon receiving disappointing news of some sort. Usually something that isn't a particularly a big deal, esp. when it primarily affects someone else - sort of a mild schadenfreude. Sometimes doubled or tripled, and possibly said in a sing-songy voice for added comedic effect to imitate a muted trumpet, which is how the meme originated.
You didn't get any napkins with your takeout pork fried rice? Womp womp.
womp by 175623226 November 3, 2011
Word of the Day on October 27, 2026
When your wife’s boyfriend let you sleep past 8pm šŸ˜ŽšŸ˜Ž
Wife’s boyfriend: You have 5 more minutes
Me: Poggers!
Poggers by Just_Charles April 14, 2020
Word of the Day on October 26, 2026

Oblication 

A vacation, feeling more like an obligation, that involves visiting or staying with family.
So Joe where are you taking the kids for spring break vacation? We are going on an oblication to Boca to visit my mother-in-law.
Oblication by kimmerr May 5, 2011
Word of the Day on October 25, 2026

Surf Dracula Syndrome 

A phenomenon in film/television series, most notably streaming series, where the main premise is drawn out to such a point that it takes an entire season or more to get the parts of the series the audience is actually interested in seeing.

For example, if a series is titled "Surf Dracula," a majority of viewers would tune in expecting to see Dracula surfing by the first or second episode. However, the entire first season would instead be tedious padding and backstory before finally ending with Dracula surfing in the last five minutes of the season finale.
I watched "Smallville" on Netflix the other day. Dude, it was ten seasons of filler before he finally flew! Major Surf Dracula Syndrome!
Word of the Day on October 24, 2026
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