The wise, the healthful, the courageous life have a similar advantage--they also exceed their opposites in pleasure.
And, generally speaking, the life of virtue is far more pleasurable and honourable, fairer and happier far, than the life of vice.

Let this be the preamble of our laws; the strain will follow.
As in a web the warp is stronger than the woof, so should the rulers be stronger than their half-educated subjects.

Let us suppose, then, that in the constitution of a state there are two parts, the appointment of the rulers, and the laws which they have to administer.

But, before going further, there are some preliminary matters which have to be considered.
As of animals, so also of men, a selection must be made; the bad breed must be got rid of, and the good retained.

The legislator must purify them, and if he be not a despot he will find this task to be a difficult one.