A sovereign shows himself to be a if he disregards his honest advisors, or punishes them for what they have said.

In parrhesia the speaker uses his freedom and chooses frankness instead of persuasion, truth instead of falsehood or silence, the risk of death instead of life and security, criticism instead of flattery, and moral duty instead of and moral apathy... in most of the Greek texts... from the Fifth Century B.C. to the Fifth Century A.D.

The last characteristic of parrhesia... telling the truth is regarded as a duty.

When a philosopher criticizes a ... a citizen criticizes the majority... a pupil criticizes his teacher... such speakers may be using parrhesia.

The parrhesia comes from "below,"... and is directed... "above." ...[A]n ancient Greek would not say ...a teacher or father who criticizes a child uses parrhesia.

[T]he function of parrhesia... has the function of criticism: criticism of the interlocutor or of the speaker...

Parrhesia is... always a "game" between the one who speaks the truth and the interlocutor.

Parrhesia... in its extreme form... takes place in the "game" of life or death. ...You risk death to tell the truth instead of reposing in the security of a life where... truth goes unspoken. ...He prefers himself as... truth-teller rather than... living... false to himself

When a philosopher addresses himself to... a , and tells him... tyranny is incompatible with justice, then the philosopher speaks... and believes he is speaking the truth, and... takes a risk... That was Plato's situation with Dionysius in Syracuse... reference... Plato's Seventh Letter, and... The Life of Dion by Plutarch.

Recognizing someone as a parrhesiastes... was... important... in Greco-Roman society, and... was explicitly raised and discussed by Plutarch, Galen, and others.