Take the case of just actions; just punishments and chastisements do indeed spring from a good principle, but they are good only because we cannot do without them - it would be better that neither individuals nor states should need anything of the sort - but actions which aim at honor and advantage are absolutely the best. The conditional action is only the choice of a lesser evil; whereas these are the foundation and creation of good. A good man may make the best even of poverty and disease, and the other ills of life.

The proof that the state is a creation of nature and prior to the individual is that the individual, when isolated, is not self-sufficing.

Justice therefore demands that no one should do more ruling than being ruled, but that all should have their turn.

And, speaking generally, passion seems not to be amenable to reason, but only to force.

Life cannot be lived, and understood, simultaneously.

The right constitutions, three in number- kingship, aristocracy, and polity- and the deviations from these, likewise three in number - tyranny from kingship, oligarchy from aristocracy, democracy from polity.

Where perception is, there also are pain and pleasure, and where these are, there, of necessity, is desire.