The Politics of Aristotle: Introduction and translationThe translator's death prevented the publication of a third volume which was to contain essays on subjects of a more general character. |
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according actions already ancient animals arise aristocracy Aristotle become begin better body Book called causes character citizens combined common consider constitution democracy desire difficulty divided elected elements equality example exercises exist follows forms of government further give given greater hand happiness Hence hold honour household idea individual interest judge justice kind king land legislator leisure less limit live magistrates manner master means ment mind mode nature necessary oligarchy original perfect persons Plato political poor possess practice preserved principle question reason regard relation respect rich rule ruler sake sense share similar slaves sort soul speak superior supposed taken things thought tion true tyranny tyrant virtue wealth whereas whole women
Popular passages
Page lxxiii - For as we have many members In one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ and every one members one of another.
Page 3 - A social instinct is implanted in all men by nature, and yet he who first founded the state was the greatest of benefactors. For man, when perfected, is the best of animals, but, when separated from law and justice, he is the worst of all...
Page cxlviii - In the first place ( 1 ) there must be a union of those who cannot exist without each other; for example, of male and female, that the race may continue; and this is a union which is formed, not of deliberate purpose, but because, in common with other animals and with plants, mankind have a natural desire to leave behind them an image of themselves.
Page 106 - For if liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost.
Page 1 - When several villages are united in a single complete community, large enough to be nearly or quite selfsufficing, the state comes into existence, originating in the bare needs of life, and continuing in existence for the sake of a good life.
Page 2 - The proof that the state is a creation of nature and prior to the individual is that the individual, when isolated, is not self-sufficing; and therefore he is like a part in relation to the whole. But he who is unable to live in society, or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or a god : he is no part of a state.
Page 117 - But a city ought to be composed, as far as possible, of equals and similars; and these are generally the middle classes. Wherefore the city which is composed of middle-class citizens is necessarily best governed; they are, as we say, the natural elements of a state.
Page 107 - A fifth form of democracy, in other respects the same, is that in which, not the law, but the multitude, have the supreme power, and supersede the law by their decrees. This is a state of affairs brought about by the demagogues. For in democracies which are subject to the law the best citizens hold the first place, and there are no demagogues ; but where the laws are not supreme, there demagogues spring up. For the people becomes a monarch, and is many in one ; and the many have the power in their...
Page 221 - All these points the statesman should keep in view when he frames his laws; he should consider the parts of the soul and their functions, and above all the better and the end; he should also remember the diversities of human lives and actions.
Page 76 - There is still a danger in allowing them to share the great offices of state, for their folly will lead them into error, and their dishonesty into crime. But there is a danger also in not letting them share, for a state in which many poor men are excluded from office will necessarily be full of enemies.
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Politics of Aristotle: Introduction and translation Volume 1 of The Politics of Aristotle, Benjamin Jowett |
| Author | Aristotle |
| Translated by | Benjamin Jowett |
| Publisher | Clarendon Press, 1885 |
| Original from | the University of Michigan |
| Digitized | 16 Jun 2006 |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |