largeness is consistent with that order already mentioned:
but still there is a determinate size to all cities,
as well as everything else, whether animals, plants,
or machines, for each of these, if they are neither
too little nor too big, have their proper powers; but
when they have not their due growth, or are badly
constructed, as a ship a span long is not properly
a ship, nor one of two furlongs length, but when it
is of a fit size; for either from its smallness or
from its largeness it may be quite useless: so
is it with a city; one that is too small has not [1326b]
in itself the power of self-defence, but this is essential
to a city: one that is too large is capable of
self-defence in what is necessary; but then it is a
nation and not a city: for it will be very difficult
to accommodate a form of government to it: for
who would choose to be the general of such an unwieldy
multitude, or who could be their herald but a stentor?
The first thing therefore necessary is, that a city
should consist of such numbers as will be sufficient
to enable the inhabitants to live happily in their
political community: and it follows, that the
more the inhabitants exceed that necessary number
the greater will the city be: but this must not
be, as we have already said, without bounds; but what
is its proper limit experience will easily show, and
this experience is to be collected from the actions
both of the governors and the governed. Now,
as it belongs to the first to direct the inferior
magistrates and to act as judges, it follows that they
can neither determine causes with justice nor issue
their orders with propriety without they know the
characters of their fellow-citizens: so that
whenever this happens not to be done in these two particulars,
the state must of necessity be badly managed; for in
both of them it is not right to determine too hastily
and without proper knowledge, which must evidently
be the case where the number of the citizens is too
many: besides, it is more easy for strangers and
sojourners to assume the rights of citizens, as they
will easily escape detection in so great a multitude.
It is evident, then, that the best boundary for a
city is that wherein the numbers are the greatest possible,
that they may be the better able to be sufficient
in themselves, while at the same time they are not
too large to be under the eye and government of the
magistrates. And thus let us determine the extent
of a city.
What we have said concerning a city may nearly be
applied to a country; for as to what soil it should
be, every one evidently will commend it if it is such
as is sufficient in itself to furnish what will make
the inhabitants happy; for which purpose it must be
able to supply them with all the necessaries of life;
for it is the having these in plenty, without any
want, which makes them content. As to its extent,
it should be such as may enable the inhabitants to
