Aristotle Quotes

Perhaps here we have a clue to the reason why royal rule used to exist formerly, namely the difficulty of finding enough men of outstanding virtue.

In the truly great, virtue governs with the sceptre of knowledge.

Divorced from ethics, leadership is reduced to management and politics to mere technique.

Political action means taking on responsibility. This cannot happen without power. Power is to serve responsibility.

That realm is never long in quiet, where the ruler is a soldier.

... the good are not willing to rule either for the sake of money or of honor.

The administration of government lies in getting proper men. Such men are to be got by means of the ruler's own character. That character is to be cultivated by his treading in the ways of duty. And the treading those ways of duty is to be cultivated by the cherishing of benevolence.

There is no perfecter endowment in man than political virtue.

Sir, in carrying on your government, why should you use killing at all? Let your evinced desires be for what is good, and the people will be good. The relation between superiors and inferiors is like that between the wind and the grass. The grass must bend, when the wind blows across it.

We need to put people in positions of authority in government, business, law, medicine, media, sports and entertainment who are filled with the laws of God so that we can bring those laws into effect.

Prudence is not only the first in rank of the virtues political and moral, but she is the director and regulator, the standard of them all.

Courage is a virtue only so far as it is directed by prudence.

It is easy to rule over the good.

Our responsibility is one of decision, for to govern is to choose.

He thinks like a philosopher, but governs like a king.

Prudence is the virtue by which we discern what is proper to do under various circumstances in time and place.

Can those entrusted with the gravest authority set any example save that of the sternest obedience to the law?

It's essential for a president to show strength from the very beginning, to make it very clear what is acceptable and not acceptable.

I think that I'm a better speechwriter than my speechwriters. I know more about policies on any particular issue than my policy directors. And I'll tell you right now that I'm gonna think I'm a better political director than my political director.

On the path of actions, great heart is the chief recommendation; on that works, a great head.

The ruling power is always faced with the question, ‘In such and such circumstances, what would you do?’, whereas the opposition is not obliged to take responsibility or make any real decisions.

The establishment uses that rationale all the time, and that's why we do what we do. But leadership requires some understanding that you can say no. People have base instincts, but the transcendent also appeal to them.

Let him leave the imperial court, who wishes to be virtuous. Virtue and absolute power cannot coexist.

Ma’at demands a leader.” “Yeah so I’ve heard.

He therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue, and who, so far as his power and influence extend, will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office of power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man.