And therefore we say that there is to be no silver or gold in the state, nor usury, nor the rearing of the meaner kinds of live-stock, but only agriculture, and only so much of this as will not lead men to neglect that for the sake of which money is made, first the soul and afterwards the body; neither of which are good for much without music and gymnastic.

Money is to be held in honour last or third; the highest interests being those of the soul, and in the second class are to be ranked those of the body.

This is the true order of legislation, which would be inverted by placing health before temperance, and wealth before health.
It might be well if every man could come to the colony having equal property; but equality is impossible, and therefore we must avoid causes of offence by having property valued and by equalizing taxation.

To this end, let us make four classes in which the citizens may be placed according to the measure of their original property, and the changes of their fortune.

The greatest of evils is revolution; and this, as the law will say, is caused by extremes of poverty or wealth.