Democracy is the form of government in which the free are rulers, and oligarchy in which the rich; it is only an accident that the free are the many and the rich are the few.

When their adventures do not succeed, however, they run away; but it was the mark of a brave man to face things that are, and seem, terrible for a man, because it is noble to do so and disgraceful not to do so.

Either a beast or a god.

It is evident that the state is a creation of nature, and that man is by nature a political animal.

What is common to many is least taken care of, for all men have greater regard for what is their own than what they possess in common with others.

We are better able to study our neighbours than ourselves, and their actions than our own.

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