for the sake of the soul that these things are desirable;
and it is on this account that wise men should desire
them, not the soul for them. Let us therefore
be well assured, that every one enjoys as much happiness
as he possesses virtue and wisdom, and acts according
to their dictates; since for this we have the example
of GOD Himself, WHO IS COMPLETELY HAPPY, NOT FROM
ANY EXTERNAL GOOD; BUT IN HIMSELF, AND BECAUSE SUCH
IS HIS NATURE. For good fortune is something different
from happiness, as every good which depends not on
the mind is owing to chance or fortune; but it is
not from fortune that any one is wise and just:
hence it follows, that that city is happiest which
is the best and acts best: for no one can do
well who acts not well; nor can the deeds either of
man or city be praiseworthy without virtue and wisdom;
for whatsoever is just, or wise, or prudent in a man,
the same things are just, wise, and prudent in a city.
Thus much by way of introduction; for I could not
but just touch upon this subject, though I could not
go through a complete investigation of it, as it properly
belongs to another question: let us at present
suppose so much, that a man’s happiest life,
both as an individual and as a citizen, is a life
of virtue, accompanied with those enjoyments which
virtue usually procures. If [1324a] there are
any who are not convinced by what I have said, their
doubts shall be answered hereafter, at present we
shall proceed according to our intended method.
CHAPTER II
It now remains for us to say whether the happiness
of any individual man and the city is the same or
different: but this also is evident; for whosoever
supposes that riches will make a person happy, must
place the happiness of the city in riches if it possesses
them; those who prefer a life which enjoys a tyrannic
power over others will also think, that the city which
has many others under its command is most happy:
thus also if any one approves a man for his virtue,
he will think the most worthy city the happiest:
but here there are two particulars which require consideration,
one of which is, whether it is the most eligible life
to be a member of the community and enjoy the rights
of a citizen, or whether to live as a stranger, without
interfering in public affairs; and also what form of
government is to be preferred, and what disposition
of the state is best; whether the whole community
should be eligible to a share in the administration,
or only the greater part, and some only: as this,
therefore, is a subject of political examination and
speculation, and not what concerns the individual,
and the first of these is what we are at present engaged
in, the one of these I am not obliged to speak to,
the other is the proper business of my present design.
It is evident that government must be the best which
is so established, that every one therein may have
it in his power to act virtuously and live happily:
Copyrights
Politics: A Treatise on Government from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.
