The beginning of reform is not so much to equalize property as to train the noble sort of natures not to desire more, and to prevent the lower from getting more.
Special care should be taken of the health of the inhabitants, which will depend chiefly on the healthiness of the locality and of the quarter to which they are exposed, and secondly on the use of pure water; this latter point is by no means a secondary consideration. For the elements which we use the most and oftenest for the support of the body contribute most to health, and among those are water and air. Wherefore, in all wise states, if there is want of pure water, and the supply is not all equally good, the drinking water ought to be separated from that which is used for other purposes.
Justice therefore demands that no one should do more ruling than being ruled, but that all should have their turn.
Nature, as we say, does nothing without some purpose; and for thepurpose of making mana political animal she has endowed him alone among the animals with the power of reasoned speech.
The true forms of government, therefore, are those in which the one, or the few, or the many, govern with a view to the common interest; but governments which rule with a view to the private interest, whether of the one or of the few, or of the many, are perversions. For the members of a state, if they are truly citizens, ought to participate in its advantages.
If freedom and equality are found mostly in a democracy, they will be best achieved when everyone equally participates in government as much as possible.
For example, justice is considered to mean equality, It does mean equality- but equality for those who are equal, and not for all.
Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of their arms.
Those who are truly virtuous have the best right to rebel, but they are also the least likely to do so.
It's clearly better for property to be privately owned, but for its use to be shared; and the main job of the lawgiver is to create this kind and generous attitude in people.
