Neither old people nor sour people seem to make friends easily; for there is little that is pleasant in them.

The vices respectively fall short of or exceed what is right in both passions and actions, while virtue both finds and chooses that which is intermediate.

In the Laws it is maintained that the best constitution is made up of democracy and tyranny, which are either not constitutions at all, or are the worst of all. But they are nearer the truth who combine many forms; for the constitution is better which is made up of more numerous elements. The constitution proposed in the Laws has no element of monarchy at all; it is nothing but oligarchy and democracy, leaning rather to oligarchy.

They should rule who are able to rule best.

He who thus considers things in their first growth and origin ... will obtain the clearest view of them.

It is not easy for a person to do any great harm when his tenure of office is short, whereas long possession begets tyranny.

All that we do is done with an eye to something else.