It is just that we should be grateful, not only to those with whose views we may agree, but also to those who have expressed more superficial views; for these also contributed something, by developing before us the powers of thought.

The bad man is continually at war with, and in opposition to, himself.

The End is included among goods of the soul, and not among external goods.

A good style must, first of all, be clear. It must not be mean or above the dignity of the subject. It must be appropriate.

He who confers a benefit on anyone loves him better than he is beloved.

If the state cannot be entirely composed of good men, and yet each citizen is expected to do his own business well, and must therefore have virtue, still inasmuch as all the citizens cannot be alike, the virtue of the citizen and of the good man cannot coincide. All must have the virtue of the good citizen - thus, and thus only, can the state be perfect; but they will not have the virtue of a good man, unless we assume that in the good state all the citizens must be good.

The purpose of art is to represent the meaning of things. This represents the true reality, not external aspects.