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"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?
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?"
"But who will watch the watchmen? Themselves?"
by Solypsys March 19, 2009
Get the Who will watch the watchmen? mug.by Dave Evans July 20, 2003
Get the watchmen mug.A handheld game for the Nintendo DS that takes place after the events of the critically acclaimed graphic novel Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. The story is set on a far off planet where Dr. Manhattan has fulfilled his promise to create new life. The planet is occupied by lazer gun toting cowboys and newly created counterparts to our planets heroes. The Various missions include getting Rorschach's Vegas wedding annulled, walking a circus tightrope, and defending a brothel from a hoard of corrupt cowboys. The game received so many negative reviews that the publishers tried to disavow the games existence to the extent of erasing it from the internet.
Person 1: I just tried to look the game up. Watchmen Future Planet must be one of those games that was so bad they erased it from existence.
Person 2: That's gotta be it.
Person 2: That's gotta be it.
by WatchmenFuturePlanet-developer December 14, 2010
Get the Watchmen Future Planet mug."Watergate" parody term referring to the high-stakes legal battle between 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. regarding the rights to the movie Watchmen.
"I'm a huge fan of Watchmen, but I hope this whole Watchmengate thing doesn't get the movie cancelled."
by BlackDoomShadow January 9, 2009
Get the Watchmengate mug.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.
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
"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
by The Amazing AO February 17, 2009
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