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Quote by Aristotle

“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.”

Quote by Aristotle

Book:Aristotle: The Politics and the Constitution of Athens

Work

Aristotle: The Politics and the Constitution of Athens

In this compilation, Aristotle explores the principles of governance and the structure of the Athenian state, offering insights into the political and social dynamics of ancient Greece. more

Author

Aristotle, a renowned Greek philosopher, is one of the founders of Western philosophy. His thoughts covered a wide range of fields, including ethics, logic, politics, and had a profound impact on the world. more

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“That the equalization of property exercises an influence on political society was clearly understood even by some of the old legislators. Laws were made by Solon and others prohibiting an individual from possessing as much land as he pleased.”

Made Government Law Political Individual Influence Land Exercise Understood Property Possessing Legislators

Book:Politics

Source: Politics

“If the state cannot be entirely composed of good men, and yet each citizen is expected to do his own business well, and must therefore have virtue, still inasmuch as all the citizens cannot be alike, the virtue of the citizen and of the good man cannot coincide. All must have the virtue of the good citizen - thus, and thus only, can the state be perfect; but they will not have the virtue of a good man, unless we assume that in the good state all the citizens must be good.”

Ifs Men Wells Stills States Government Perfect Virtue Citizens Assuming Be Good Expected Good Man Own Business Good Citizen

Book:The Essential Aristotle

Source: The Essential Aristotle

“It has been well said that 'he who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.' The two are not the same, but the good citizen ought to be capable of both; he should know how to govern like a freeman, and how to obey like a freeman - these are the virtues of a citizen.”

Knows Should Wells Has Beens Said Two Government Know How Virtue Ought Citizens Capable Commanders Good Citizen Freeman Well Said

Book:The Essential Aristotle

Source: The Essential Aristotle

“The true forms of government, therefore, are those in which the one, or the few, or the many, govern with a view to the common interest; but governments which rule with a view to the private interest, whether of the one or of the few, or of the many, are perversions. For the members of a state, if they are truly citizens, ought to participate in its advantages.”

Ifs States Government Form Interest Views Common Ought Citizens Members Advantage Forms Of Government Perversion Common Interests

Book:Aristotle: The Politics and the Constitution of Athens

Source: Aristotle: The Politics and the Constitution of Athens

“The perversions are as follows: of royalty, tyranny; of aristocracy, oligarchy; of constitutional government, democracy.”

Government Democracy Tyranny Royalty Aristocracy Perversion Oligarchy Constitutional Government

Book:Politics

Source: Politics

“There is also a doubt as to what is to be the supreme power in the state: - Is it the multitude? Or the wealthy? Or the good? Or the one best man? Or a tyrant?”

Men States Government Doubt Supreme Wealthy Tyrants Multitudes Supreme Power

Book:Politics

Source: Politics

“If the poor, for example, because they are more in number, divide among themselves the property of the rich,- is not this unjust? . . this law of confiscation clearly cannot be just.”

Ifs Government Law Poor Numbers Rich Example Property Divides Unjust

Book:The Philosophy Collection [97 Books]

Source: The Philosophy Collection [97 Books]

“But is it just then that the few and the wealthy should be the rulers? And what if they, in like manner, rob and plunder the people, - is this just?”

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Book:Politics

Source: Politics

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

Made Government Election

Book:The Essential Aristotle

Source: The Essential Aristotle

“These, then, are the four kinds of royalty. First the monarchy of the heroic ages; this was exercised over voluntary subjects, but limited to certain functions; the king was a general and a judge, and had the control of religion The second is that of the barbarians, which is a hereditary despotic government in accordance with law. A third is the power of the so-called Aesynmete or Dictator; this is an elective tyranny. The fourth is the Lacedaemonian, which is in fact a generalship, hereditary and perpetual.”

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Aristotle (Illustrated)