Assuming Quote by Aristotle
“If the state cannot be entirely composed of good men, and yet each citizen is expected to do his own business well, and must therefore have virtue, still inasmuch as all the citizens cannot be alike, the virtue of the citizen and of the good man cannot coincide. All must have the virtue of the good citizen - thus, and thus only, can the state be perfect; but they will not have the virtue of a good man, unless we assume that in the good state all the citizens must be good.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Politics by Aristotle, 4th century BC
A perfect state requires citizens who act virtuously in public, even if they are not all morally perfect individuals.
In simple terms: The state needs good citizens, not necessarily good men.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate civic virtue.
Themes
politics
ethics
citizenship
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- government
- public policy
- education
- law enforcement
Key Concepts
virtue ethics
common good
Questions to Reflect On
- Can a society thrive if only public duties are virtuous?
- What balances personal and civic virtue?
A Different Perspective
Citizens may lack personal moral excellence.
