Those that deem politics beneath their dignity are doomed to be governed by those of lesser talents.

Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods.

Whatsoever that be within us that feels, thinks, desires, and animates, is something celestial, divine, and, consequently, imperishable.

The gods too are fond of a joke.

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.

A poet's object is not to tell what actually happened but what could or would happen either probably or inevitably.... For this reason poetry is something more scientific and serious than history, because poetry tends to give general truths while history gives particular facts.

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