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And grant that this is the same to the individual and to the

community, yet surely that of the latter is plainly greater and

more perfect to discover and preserve: for to do this even for a

single individual were a matter for contentment; but to do it for

a whole nation, and for communities generally, were more noble

and godlike.

Such then are the objects proposed by our treatise, which is of

the nature of πολιτικὴ: and I conceive I shall have spoken on

them satisfactorily, if they be made as distinctly clear as the

nature of the subject-matter will admit: for exactness must not

be looked for in all discussions alike, any more than in all

works of handicraft. Now the notions of nobleness and justice,

with the examination of which πολιτικὴ is concerned, admit of

variation and error to such a degree, that they are supposed by

some to exist conventionally only, and not in the nature of

things: but then, again, the things which are allowed to be goods

admit of a similar error, because harm comes to many from them:

for before now some have perished through wealth, and others

through valour.