Why is this? Surely not because they are at a distance from one
another: for even supposing that such a community were to meet in
one place, but that each man had a house of his own, which was in a
manner his state, and that they made alliance with one another, but
only against evil-doers; still an accurate thinker would not deem this
to be a state, if their intercourse with one another was of the same
character after as before their union. It is clear then that a state
is not a mere society, having a common place, established for the
prevention of mutual crime and for the sake of exchange. These are
conditions without which a state cannot exist; but all of them
together do not constitute a state, which is a community of families
and aggregations of families in well-being, for the sake of a
perfect and self-sufficing life. Such a community can only be
established among those who live in the same place and intermarry.
Hence arise in cities family connections, brotherhoods, common
sacrifices, amusements which draw men together. But these are
created by friendship, for the will to live together is friendship.
The end of the state is the good life, and these are the means towards
it. And the state is the union of families and villages in a perfect
and self-sufficing life, by which we mean a happy and honorable life.
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