Political fragments of Archytas, Charondas, Zaleucus, and other ancient Pythagoreans, preserved by Stobæus : $b and also, Ethical fragments of Hierocles, the celebrated commentator on the Golden Pythagoric Verses, preserved by the same author
Philosophy
Political fragments of Archytas, Charondas, Zaleucus, and other ancient Pythagoreans, preserved by Stobæus : $b and also, Ethical fragments of Hierocles, the celebrated commentator on the Golden Pythagoric Verses, preserved by the same author
Ethics -- Early works to 1800; Political science -- Early works to 1800
Hence it is necessary that a king should not be vanquished by
pleasure, but that he should vanquish it; that he should not be
similar to, but far excel the multitude; and that he should not
conceive his proper employment to consist in the pursuit of pleasure,
but rather in the acquisition of probity. At the same time also it is
fit that he who has occasion to rule over others should first be able
to govern his own passions.
But with respect to the desire of obtaining great property, it must
be observed, that a king ought to be wealthy in order that he may
benefit his friends, relieve those that are in want, and justly
punish his enemies. For the enjoyment of prosperity in conjunction
with virtue is most delightful. The same thing must be said
concerning the transcendency of a king. For since he always surpasses
others in virtue, it is fit to form a judgment of his empire with
reference to virtue, and not with reference to riches, or power, or
his military strength. For he possesses one of these [viz. riches]
in common with any casual persons; another [viz. power] in common
with irrational animals; and the last in common with tyrants. But
virtue is alone the peculiarity of good men. Hence, whatever king is
temperate with respect to pleasures, liberal with respect to money,
and prudent and most skilful in governing, he will be in reality
a king. The people, however, have the same analogy with respect
to the virtues and the vices, as the parts of the human soul. For
the desire of accumulating more than is fit subsists about the
irrational part of the soul: for desire is not rational[15]. But
ambition and ferocity subsist about the irascible part: for this is
the fervid and strenuous part of the soul. And the love of pleasure
subsists about the epithymetic part: for this is the effeminate and
yielding part of the soul. But injustice, which is the most perfect
vice, and is of a composite nature, subsists about the whole soul.
Hence it is necessary that the king should coharmonize like a lyre
the city that is furnished with good laws, first establishing in
himself the most just boundary and order of law, as knowing that
the proper arrangement of the people, over whom divinity has given
him dominion, ought to be coadapted to this boundary. It is also
necessary that a good king should establish becoming positions
and habits in the delivery of public orations, conducting himself
politically, seriously, and earnestly, in order that he may neither
appear to be rough to the multitude; nor may be contemptible; but
may be agreeable and easy in his manners. He will however obtain
these things, if in the first place he is venerable in his aspect and
his discourse, and appears to deserve the sovereign authority which
he possesses. But, in the second place, if he proves himself to be
benign from his behaviour to those whom he may happen to meet, from
his countenance and his beneficence. And in the third place, if he is
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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