--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man, when perfected, is the best of…" description: "\"Man, when perfected, is the best of animals, but when separated from law and justice, he is the worst of all.\" — Aristotle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/aristotle-78_animals_man-when-perfected-is-the-best-of-animal_608784.png" --- # Man, when perfected, is the best of animals, but when… ![“Man, when perfected, is the best of animals, but when separated from law and justice, he is the worst of all.” quote by Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/aristotle-78_animals_man-when-perfected-is-the-best-of-animal_608784.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/aristotle-78_animals_man-when-perfected-is-the-best-of-animal_608784.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/aristotle-78_animals_man-when-perfected-is-the-best-of-animal_608784.png) > “Man, when perfected, is the best of animals, but when separated from law and justice, he is the worst of all.” [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues that law and justice are essential for humanity’s virtue; without them, humans become worst. **In simple terms:** Law guides humanity. Key Takeaway Uphold justice and law. Themes ethics law human nature Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - legal reform - civic education - community governance Key Concepts virtue ethics social contract Questions to Reflect On - How can societies enforce justice fairly? - What role does personal virtue play beyond law? A Different Perspective Justice alone cannot guarantee moral behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Law and justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-and-justice/) [Law Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-justice/) ## Related quotes > [“At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law & justice he is the worst.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/at-his-best-man-is-the-noblest-of-all-animals-separated-from-law/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [For man, when perfected, is the best of animals, but, when separated from law and justice, he is the worst of all; since armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/for-man-when-perfected-is-the-best-of-animals-but-when-separated-from/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“For man, when perfected, is the best of animals, but when separated from law and justice he is the worst of all; since armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-johns/for-man-when-perfected-is-the-best-of-animals-but-when-separated-from-2/) Rebecca Johns > [“there is very little connection between law and justice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-masters/there-is-very-little-connection-between-law-and-justice/) [Alexander Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-masters/) > [I know a lot of law officers, and every single one of them faces a moment - usually after about three hours on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/i-know-a-lot-of-law-officers-and-every-single-one-of-them-faces-a/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [Law and justice are not always the same. 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My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. 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