and associate yourself with the wisest of those who are about you and send for the wisest men from abroad whenever this is possible. And do not imagine that you can afford to be ignorant of anyone either of the famous poets or of the sages; rather you should listen to the poets and learn from the sages and so equip your mind to judge those who are inferior and to emulate those who are superior to yourself; for it is through this training that you can soonest become such a man as we have assumed that one must be who is to perform properly the duties of a king, and to govern the state as he should.
But
This, then, should be the starting-point for those who set out to do their duty. But, in addition, one must be a lover of men and a lover of his country; for neither horses nor dogs nor men nor any other thing can be properly controlled except by one who takes pleasure in the objects for which it is his duty to care. You must care for the people and make it your first consideration to rule acceptably to them,
knowing that all governments—oligarchies as well as the others—have the longest life when
they best serve the masses. You will be a wise leader of the people if you do not allow
the multitude either to do or to suffer outrage, but see to it that the best among them
shall have the honors,
When public ordinances and institutions are not well founded, alter and change them. If possible, originate for yourself what is best for your country, but, failing in this, imitate what is good in other countries. Seek laws that are altogether just and expedient and consistent with each other and, moreover, those which cause the fewest possible controversies and bring about the speediest possible settlements for your citizens; for all these qualities should be found in wise legislation.
Make industry profitable for your people and lawsuits detrimental, in order that they may shun the latter and embrace the former with greater willingness. In pronouncing on matters about which there is mutual dispute, do not render decisions which exhibit favoritism or inconsistency, but let your verdicts on the same issues be always the same; for it is both right and expedient that the judgements of kings on questions of justice should be invariable, like wisely ordained laws.
Manage the city as you would your ancestral estate: in the matter of its appointments, splendidly and royally; in the matter of its revenues, strictly, in order that you may possess the good opinion of your people and at the same time have sufficient means. Display magnificence, not in any of the extravagant outlays which straightway vanish, but in the ways which I have mentioned, and in the beauty of the objects which you possess, and in the benefits which you bestow upon your friends; for such expenditures will not be lost to you while you live, and you will leave to those who follow you a heritage worth more than what you have spent.
In the worship of the gods, follow the example of your ancestors, but believe that the
noblest sacrifice and the greatest devotion is to show yourself in the highest degree a
good and just man; for such men have greater hope of enjoying a blessing from the
gods
Believe that your staunchest body-guard lies in the virtue of your friends, the loyalty
of your citizens and your own wisdom;
Throughout all your life show that you value truth so highly that your word is more to be
trusted than the oaths of other men.
Deliver your citizens from their many fears, and be not willing that dread should beset men who have done no wrong; for even as you dispose others toward you, so you will feel toward them. Do nothing in anger, but simulate anger when the occasion demands it. Show yourself stern by overlooking nothing which men do, but kind by making the punishment less than the offense.
Be not willing to show your authority by harshness or by undue severity in punishment,
but by causing your subjects one and all to defer to your judgement and to believe that
your plans for their welfare are better than their own. Be warlike in your knowledge of
war and in your preparations for it, but peaceful in your avoidance of all unjust
aggression.
Do not be contentious in all things, but only where it will profit you to have your own way. Do not think men weak who yield a point to their own advantage, but rather those who prevail to their own injury. Do not consider that the great souls are those who undertake more than they can achieve, but those who, having noble aims, are also able to accomplish whatever they attempt.
Emulate, not those who have most widely extended their dominion, but those who have made
best use of the power they already possess;