A good character carries with it the highest power of causing a thing to be believed.

Life is full of chances and changes, and the most prosperous of men may in the evening of his days meet with great misfortunes.

Governments which have a regard to the common interest are constituted in accordance with strict principles of justice, and are therefore true forms; but those which regard only the interest of the rulers are all defective and perverted forms, for they are despotic, whereas a state is a community of freemen.

A city is composed of different kinds of men; similar people cannot bring a city into existence.

Anyone who has no need of anybody but himself is either a beast or a God.

People do not naturally become morally excellent or practically wise. They become so, if at all, only as the result of lifelong personal and community effort.

The only stable state is the one in which all men are equal before the law.