The argument
of the latter is that he who does nothing cannot do well, and that
virtuous activity is identical with happiness. To both we say: 'you
are partly right and partly wrong.' first class are right in affirming
that the life of the freeman is better than the life of the despot;
for there is nothing grand or noble in having the use of a slave, in
so far as he is a slave; or in issuing commands about necessary
things. But it is an error to suppose that every sort of rule is
despotic like that of a master over slaves, for there is as great a
difference between the rule over freemen and the rule over slaves as
there is between slavery by nature and freedom by nature, about
which I have said enough at the commencement of this treatise. And
it is equally a mistake to place inactivity above action, for
happiness is activity, and the actions of the just and wise are the
realization of much that is noble.
But perhaps some one, accepting these premises, may still maintain
that supreme power is the best of all things, because the possessors
of it are able to perform the greatest number of noble actions. if so,
the man who is able to rule, instead of giving up anything to his
neighbor, ought rather to take away his power; and the father should
make no account of his son, nor the son of his father, nor friend of
friend; they should not bestow a thought on one another in
comparison with this higher object, for the best is the most
eligible and 'doing eligible' and 'doing well' is the best.
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