BOOK FOUR
I
IN all arts and sciences which embrace the whole of any subject, and
do not come into being in a fragmentary way, it is the province of a
single art or science to consider all that appertains to a single
subject. For example, the art of gymnastic considers not only the
suitableness of different modes of training to different bodies (2),
but what sort is absolutely the best (1); (for the absolutely best
must suit that which is by nature best and best furnished with the
means of life), and also what common form of training is adapted to
the great majority of men (4). And if a man does not desire the best
habit of body, or the greatest skill in gymnastics, which might be
attained by him, still the trainer or the teacher of gymnastic
should be able to impart any lower degree of either (3). The same
principle equally holds in medicine and shipbuilding, and the making
of clothes, and in the arts generally.
Hence it is obvious that government too is the subject of a single
science, which has to consider what government is best and of what
sort it must be, to be most in accordance with our aspirations, if
there were no external impediment, and also what kind of government is
adapted to particular states. For the best is often unattainable,
and therefore the true legislator and statesman ought to be
acquainted, not only with (1) that which is best in the abstract,
but also with (2) that which is best relatively to circumstances.
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