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

Young people are in a condition like permanent intoxication, because life is sweet and they are growing.

The student of politics therefore as well as the psychologist must study the nature of the soul.

The generality of men are naturally apt to be swayed by fear rather than reverence, and to refrain from evil rather because of the punishment that it brings than because of its own foulness.

The coward calls the brave man rash, the rash man calls him a coward.

He is his own best friend and takes delight in privacy whereas the man of no virtue or ability is his own worst enemy and is afraid of solitude.

All three states - the Lacedaemonian, the Cretan, and the Carthaginian - nearly resemble one another, and are very different from any others. Many of the Carthaginian institutions are excellent. The superiority of their constitution is proved by the fact that the common people remains loyal to the constitution; the Carthaginians have never had any rebellion worth speaking of, and have never been under the rule of a tyrant.