Politics

 Table of Contents

 Book One

 for the ox is the poor man's slave. The family is the association established by nature for the supply of men's everyday wants, and the members of it

 For they lived dispersedly, as was the manner in ancient times. Wherefore men say that the Gods have a king, because they themselves either are or wer

 whom Homer denounces - the natural outcast is forthwith a lover of war he may be compared to an isolated piece at draughts.

 if, in like manner, the shuttle would weave and the plectrum touch the lyre without a hand to guide them, chief workmen would not want servants, nor m

 What does this mean but that they distinguish freedom and slavery, noble and humble birth, by the two principles of good and evil? They think that as

 But there is a boundary fixed, just as there is in the other arts for the instruments of any art are never unlimited, either in number or size, and r

 but this is not equally the glory of man. The child is imperfect, and therefore obviously his virtue is not relative to himself alone, but to the perf

 Book Two

 There are crimes of which the motive is want and for these Phaleas expects to find a cure in the equalization of property, which will take away from

 Book Three

 As though there were a special education needed by a ruler. If then the virtue of a good ruler is the same as that of a good man, and we assume furthe

 And at this day there are magistrates, for example judges, who have authority to decide some matters which the law is unable to determine, since no on

 Book Four

 Book Five

 Book Six

 Book Seven

 The power of command and the love of freedom are in all men based upon this quality, for passion is commanding and invincible. Nor is it right to say

 and again:

 Thus we have nearly determined the number and character of the citizens of our state, and also the size and nature of their territory. I say 'nearly,'

 Book Eight

 and afterwards he speaks of others whom he describes as inviting

 And in another place Odysseus says there is no better way of passing life than when men's hearts are merry and

 Hence and with good reason it is introduced into social gatherings and entertainments, because it makes the hearts of men glad: so that on this ground

Politics

Aristotle

Translated by Benjamin Jowett