Nor was civil society founded merely to preserve the lives of its members; but that they might live well: for otherwise a state might be composed of slaves, or the animal creation... nor is it an alliance mutually to defend each other from injuries, or for a commercial intercourse. But whosoever endeavors to establish wholesome laws in a state, attends to the virtues and vices of each individual who composes it; from whence it is evident, that the first care of him who would found a city, truly deserving that name, and not nominally so, must be to have his citizens virtuous.

Yellow-colored objects appear to be gold

It is better for a city to be governed by a good man than by good laws.

A friend to all is a friend to none.

Nature makes nothing incomplete, and nothing in vain.

A man becomes a friend whenever being loved he loves in return.

Virtue is the golden mean between two vices, the one of excess and the other of deficiency.