Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.
A state is not a mere society, having a common place, established for the prevention of mutual crime and for the sake of exchange. Political society exists for the sake of noble actions, and not mere companionship.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes that a political state is meant for achieving noble actions rather than just preventing crime or facilitating trade.
In this quote, Aristotle articulates the purpose of a political state, highlighting that its existence transcends the mere functionality of society as a space for reducing crime and engaging in economic exchange. Instead, he argues that the essence of political society lies in its ability to promote virtuous actions and the common good, suggesting that genuine harmony and progress within a community are rooted in the pursuit of ethical and noble ideals.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture on political philosophy, this quote could be used to underline the importance of ethics in governance.
More from Aristotle
All quotes →Those who cannot bravely face danger are the slaves of their attackers.
For often, when one is asleep, there is something in consciousness which declares that what then presents itself is but a dream.
You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.
But if nothing but soul, or in soul mind, is qualified to count, it is impossible for there to be time unless there is soul, but only that of which time is an attribute, i.e. if change can exist without soul.
The whole is more than the sum of its parts.
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