Anybody can get hit over the head.

Hence both women and children must be educated with an eye to the constitution, if indeed it makes any difference to the virtue of a city-state that its children be virtuous, and its women too. And it must make a difference, since half the free population are women, and from children come those who participate in the constitution.

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.

A right election can only be made by those who have knowledge.

Hippocrates is an excellent geometer but a complete fool in everyday affairs.

The senses are gateways to the intelligence. There is nothing in the intelligence which did not first pass through the senses.

If men are given food, but no chastisement nor any work, they become insolent.