Politics and society study guide quotes

"Under the rule of many there cannot be peace except insofar as they are united by one will."

BARTOLUS, THREE TRACTS ON CITY GOVERNMENT

"The rule of one is therefore to be preferred to that of many, though perils flow from each."

AQUINAS, ON THE GOVERNMENT OF PRINCES

"For injuries should be done all together so that, because they are tasted less, they will cause less resentment; benefits should be given out one by one, so that they will be savoured more,"

MACHIAVELLI, THE PRINCE

"If the earlier form of society are natural, so is the state, for it is end of them, and the nature of a thing is its end."

ARISTOTLE, THE POLITICS

"Nevertheless, so as not to eliminate human freedom, I am disposed to hold that fortune is the arbiter of half our actions, but that it lets us control roughly the other half."

MACHIAVELLI, THE PRINCE

"Again, the male is by nature superior, and the female inferior; and the ones tule, and the other is ruled; this principle, of necessity,e tends to mankind."

ARISTOTLE, THE POLITICS

"Since it is not always possible to follow in the footsteps of others, or to equal the ability of those whom you imitate, a prudent man will always follow the methods of remarkable men, and imitate those who have been outstanding, so that, even if he does not succeed in matching their ability, at least he will get within sniffing distance of it."

MACHIAVELLI, THE PRINCE

"For the former look to benefit of mankind, and a man should hold nothing more sacred than that."

CICERO, ON DUTIES

"... But in a Natural man we see one head and many members: so if a city were to be ruled thus it would be ruled best, because this imitates nature more closely."

BARTOLUS, THREE TRACTS ON CITY GOVERNMENT

"For it is friendship which, by bringing virtuous men together as one, preserves and promotes virtue."

AQUINAS, ON THE GOVERNMENT OF PRINCES

"I am disposed to hold that fortune is the arbiter of half our actions, but that it lets control roughly the other half."

MACHIAVELLI, THE PRINCE

"Justice is the bond of men in states; for the administration of justice, which is the determination of what is just, is the principle of order in political society."

ARISTOTLE, THE POLITICS

" You, young men, show a womanly spirit that maiden a man."

CICERO, ON DUTIES

" A rule who succeeds in creating such an image of himself will envy a fine reputation; and it will be difficult to plot against or attack him."

MACHIAVELLI, THE PRINCE

"Others affirm that the rule of a master over a slave is contrary to nature, and that the distinction b/t slave and freeman exists by convention only, and not by nature, and being an interference with nature is therefore unjust."

ARISTOTLE, THE POLITICS

" Perfect rational discernment, for him to know the just from the unjust."

BARTOLUS, THREE TRACTS ON CITY GOVERNMENT

"It should be observed here that men should either be caressed or crushed; because they can avenge slight injuries, but not those that are very severe. Hence, any injury alone to a man must be such that there is no need to fear his revenge."

MACHIAVELLI, THE PRINCE

"The outcome is that you make enemies of all those whom you have injuries in annexing a principality. Yet, you cannot retain the friendship of those who have helped you to become ruler, because you cannot satisfy them in ways they expect."

MACHIAVELLI, THE PRINCE

"And as a feast to which all the guests contribute is better than a banquet furnished by a single man, so a multitude is a better judge of many things than any individual."

ARISTOTLE, THE POLITICS

"First, perfect rational discernment, for him to know the just from the unjust, and to distinguish the licit from the illicit... Second, he ought have right intention. Third, he ought to hable perfect steadfastness."

BARTOLUS, THREE TRACTS ON CITY GOVERNMENT

"Moreover, the keeping of faith is fundamental to justice, that is constancy and truth in what is said and agreed."

CICERO, ON DUTIES

"Shepherds must seek the good of their flock, and all ruler the good of the community subject to them."

AQUINAS, ONTHE GOVERNMENT OF PRINCES

"Doing some things that seem virtuous that result in one's ruin, whereas doing other things that seem vicious that strengthen ones opposition."

MACHIAVELLI, THE PRINCE

"Likewise, one needs to be a ruler to understand properly the character of the people, and to be a man of the people to understand properly the character of rulers.

MACHIAVELLI, THE PRINCE

"Wherefore I, Batolus of Sassoferrato, a citizen of Peruvian, the least doctor of the law, ask God to liberate us, and keep us in his own holy, good, and perfect tranquility and make us rejoice together."

BARTOLUS, THREE TRACTS ON CITY GOVERNMENT

"But the people can be thus satisfied because their aims are more honorable than those of the nobles: for the latter want only oppress and the former only to avoid being oppressed."

MACHIAVELLI, THE PRINCE.

"As we might speak of a state hand; for when destroyed the hand will be no better than that. But things are defined by their function & power; and we ought not to say that they are the same when they no longer have their proper quality, but only that they are homonymous."

ARISTOTLE, THE POLITICS

"He should act as skillful archers do, when their target seems too distant, knowing they aim at a much higher point, not to hit it with the arrow, but by aiming there to be able to strike their target."

MACHIAVELLI, THE PRINCE

"Peace & Unity of the citizens ought to be the aim of the leader."

BARTOLUS, THREE TRACTS ON CITY GOVERNMENT

" There is nothing that is so self-consuming as generosity; the more you practice it, the less you will be able to continue to practice it."

MACHIAVELLI, THE PRINCE