Our characters are the result of our conduct.

The true friend of the people should see that they be not too poor, for extreme poverty lowers the character of the democracy.

It was through the feeling of wonder that men now and at first began to philosophize.

Neither old people nor sour people seem to make friends easily; for there is little that is pleasant in them.

Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others.

For through wondering human beings now and in the beginning have been led to philosophizing.

And what has come to prevail in democracies is the very reverse of beneficial, in those, that is, which are regarded as the most democratically run. The reason for this lies in the failure properly to define liberty. For there are two marks by which democracy is thought to be defined: "sovereignty of the majority" and "liberty." "Just" is equated with what is equal, and the decision of the majority as to what is equal is regarded as sovereign; and liberty is seen in terms of doing what one wants.