Neither, again, is it necessary that states
which are cut off from others and choose to live alone should be
inactive; for activity, as well as other things, may take place by
sections; there are many ways in which the sections of a state act
upon one another. The same thing is equally true of every
individual. If this were otherwise, God and the universe, who have
no external actions over and above their own energies, would be far
enough from perfection. Hence it is evident that the same life is best
for each individual, and for states and for mankind collectively
IV
Thus far by way of introduction. In what has preceded I have
discussed other forms of government; in what remains the first point
to be considered is what should be the conditions of the ideal or
perfect state; for the perfect state cannot exist without a due supply
of the means of life. And therefore we must presuppose many purely
imaginary conditions, but nothing impossible. There will be a
certain number of citizens, a country in which to place them, and
the like. As the weaver or shipbuilder or any other artisan must
have the material proper for his work (and in proportion as this is
better prepared, so will the result of his art be nobler), so the
statesman or legislator must also have the materials suited to him.
Pages:
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296