For though we love both the truth and our friends, piety requires us to honour the truth first.
The beginning of reform is not so much to equalize property as to train the noble sort of natures not to desire more, and to prevent the lower from getting more.
Men are swayed more by fear than by reverence.
He who can be, and therefore is, another’s, and he who participates in reason enough to apprehend, but not to have, is a slave by nature
The most perfect political community is one in which the middle class is in control, and outnumbers both of the other classes.
Therefore, the good of man must be the end of the science of politics.
A great city is not to be confounded with a populous one.
We become just by performing just action, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave action.
The least initial deviation from the truth is multiplied later a thousand fold.
Misfortune shows those who are not really friends.
Politicians also have no leisure, because they are always aiming at something beyond political life itself, power and glory, or happiness.
No notice is taken of a little evil, but when it increases it strikes the eye.
Those who excel in virtue have the best right of all to rebel, but then they are of all men the least inclined to do so.
The state comes into existence for the sake of life and continues to exist for the sake of good life.
No one loves the man whom he fears.
Piety requires us to honour truth above our friends.
Perfect friendship is the friendship of men who are good, and alike in excellence; for these wish well alike to each other qua good, and they are good in themselves.
Bring your desires down to your present means. Increase them only when your increased means permit.
Inferiors revolt in order that they may be equal, and equals that they may be superior. Such is the state of mind which creates revolutions.