The government of freemen is nobler and implies more virtue than despotic government. Neither is a city to be deemed happy or a legislator to be praised because he trains his citizens to conquer and obtain dominion over their neighbors, for there is great evil in this.

Of mankind in general, the parts are greater than the whole.

Obstinate people can be divided into the opinionated, the ignorant, and the boorish.

Youth should stay away from all evil, especially things that produce wickedness and ill-will.

They - Young People have exalted notions, because they have not been humbled by life or learned its necessary limitations; moreover, their hopeful disposition makes them think themselves equal to great things - and that means having exalted notions. They would always rather do noble deeds than useful ones: Their lives are regulated more by moral feeling than by reasoning - all their mistakes are in the direction of doing things excessively and vehemently. They overdo everything - they love too much, hate too much, and the same with everything else.

The science that studies the supreme good for man is politics.

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