Quotes by Aristotle

It is absurd to hold that a man ought to be ashamed of being unable to defend himself with his limbs but not of being unable to defend himself with speech and reason, when the use of reason is more distinctive of a human being than the use of his limbs.

Wit is well-bred insolence.

It is simplicity that makes the uneducated more effective than the educated when addressing popular audiences.

Man is an animal whose nature it is to live in a polis.

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.

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.

Man, when perfected, is the best of animals, but when separated from law and justice, he is the worst of all.

Money was intended to be used in exchange, but not to increase at interest. And this term interest, which means the birth of money from money, is applied to the breeding of money because the offspring resembles the parent. Wherefore of all modes of getting wealth this is the most unnatural.

That judges of important causes should hold office for life is a disputable thing, for the mind grows old as well as the body.

A state is not a mere society, having a common place, established for the prevention of mutual crime and for the sake of exchange.... Political society exists for the sake of noble actions, and not of mere companionship.

The law is reason unaffected by desire.

Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of their arms.

A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side.

The basis of a democratic state is liberty.