We must no more ask whether the soul and body are one than ask whether the wax and the figure impressed on it are one.

Those who have the command of the arms in a country are masters of the state, and have it in their power to make what revolutions they please. [Thus,] there is no end to observations on the difference between the measures likely to be pursued by a minister backed by a standing army, and those of a court awed by the fear of an armed people.

Happiness belongs to the self sufficient.

The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival.

Men regard it as their right to return evil for evil and, if they cannot, feel they have lost their liberty.

Thus it is thought that justice is equality; and so it is, but not for all persons, only for those that are equal. Inequality also is thought to be just; and so it is, but not for all, only for the unequal. We make bad mistakes if we neglect this for whom when we are deciding what is just. The reason is that we are making judgements about ourselves, and people are generally bad judges where their own interests are involved.

Those who excel in virtue have the best right of all to rebel, but then they are of all men the least inclined to do so.