For imitation is natural to man from his infancy. Man differs from other animals particularly in this, that he is imitative, and acquires his rudiments of knowledge in this way; besides, the delight in it is universal.

Melancholy men, of all others, are the most witty.

A courageous person is one who faces fearful things as he ought and as reason directs for the sake of what is noble.

A common danger unites even the bitterest enemies.

A tragedy is the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself . . . with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish its catharsis of such emotions.

Different men seek after happiness in different ways and by different means, and so make for themselves different modes of life and forms of government.

Now the soul of man is divided into two parts, one of which has a rational principle in itself, and the other, not having a rational principle in itself, is able to obey such a principle. And we call a man in any way good because he has the virtues of these two parts.