Republics decline into democracies and democracies degenerate into despotisms.

Happiness is an expression of the soul in considered actions.

In a democracy the poor will have more power than the rich, because there are more of them, and the will of the majority is supreme.

...perhaps there is some element of good even in the simple act of living, so long as the evils of existence do not preponderate too heavily.

Virtue means doing the right thing, in relation to the right person, at the right time, to the right extent, in the right manner, and for the right purpose. Thus, to give money away is quite a simple task, but for the act to be virtuous, the donor must give to the right person, for the right purpose, in the right amount, in the right manner, and at the right time.

Where some people are very wealthy and others have nothing, the result will be either extreme democracy or absolute oligarchy, or despotism will come from either of those excesses.

Either a beast or a god.