All You Fascists Bound to Lose.

Based on Plato's The Republic (specifically Book IX, 579e), the argument that a dictator is always afraid of being killed is a central component of his analysis of tyranny.

Plato portrays the dictator as the most miserable of men, suffering from extreme fear and paranoia rather than enjoying absolute freedom.

Key aspects of this fear, as outlined by Plato, include:

Constant Paranoia: The dictator lives in perpetual fear of assassination, suspecting everyone—including his own associates and slaves—of plotting against him.

The "Slave" Status: Because the dictator has destroyed all institutional trust and law, he becomes a prisoner in his own home, surrounded by bodyguards who are actually his captors.

No Genuine Friendships: Due to his distrust, he cannot have true friends or free men around him, forcing him to live among flatterers.

Inescapable Danger: Plato explains that after the dictator has disposed of foreign enemies, he is forced to constantly create new wars or internal conflicts to keep the people frightened and dependent on him for protection, a cycle that intensifies his own risks.

In summary, Plato argues that the dictator is not a "free" ruler, but rather a "real slave" to his own fear, desire, and insecurity.