We become just by the practice of just actions, self-controlled by exercising self-control, and courageous by performing acts of courage.

The difference between a learned man and an ignorant one is the same as that between a living man and a corpse.

Whatever we learn to do, we learn by actually doing it; men come to be builders, for instance, by building, and harp players by playing the harp. In the same way, by doing just acts we come to be just; by doing self-controlled acts, we come to be self-controlled ; and by doing brave acts, we become brave.

The avarice of mankind is insatiable; at one time two obols was pay enough; but now, when this sum has become customary, men always want more and more without end.

If you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development

Music directly represents the passions of the soul. If one listens to the wrong kind of music, he will become the wrong kind of person.

All men agree that a just distribution must be according to merit in some sense; they do not all specify the same sort of merit, but democrats identify it with freemen, supporters of oligarchy with wealth (or noble birth), and supporters of aristocracy with excellence.