The happy life is thought to be one of excellence; now an excellent life requires exertion, and does not consist in amusement.

The least deviation from truth will be multiplied later.

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.

The shape of the heaven is of necessity spherical; for that is the shape most appropriate to its substance and also by nature primary.

Education and morals will be found almost the whole that goes to make a good man.

All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire.

Tyrants preserve themselves by sowing fear and mistrust among the citizens by means of spies, by distracting them with foreign wars, by eliminating men of spirit who might lead a revolution, by humbling the people, and making them incapable of decisive action.