for we are inquiring not in order to know what virtue is, but in order to become good, since otherwise our inquiry would have been of no use

Men become richer not only by increasing their existing wealth but also by decreasing their expenditure.

Only an armed people can be truly free. Only an unarmed people can ever be enslaved.

At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst.

The bad man is continually at war with, and in opposition to, himself.

It is clearly better that property should be private, but the use of it common; and the special business of the legislator is to create in men this benevolent disposition.

Comedy has had no history, because it was not at first treated seriously.