It is manifestly possible to be a good citizen without possessing the goodness that constitutes a good man.

[ὅτι μὲν οὖν ἐνδέχεται πολίτην ὄντα σπουδαῖον μὴ κεκτῆσθαι τὴν ἀρετὴν καθ᾽ ἣν σπουδαῖος ἀνήρ, φανερόν.]

Aristotle (384-322 BC) Greek philosopher
Politics [Πολιτικά], Book 3, ch. 4 / 1276b.34 [tr. Rackham (1932)]
    (Source)

Note that a similar passage can be found at 1277a12.

(Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:

An excellent citizen does not possess that virtue which constitutes a good man.
[tr. Ellis (1776)]

It is quite possible that a citizen, though good as such, should not possess the excellence which characterizes a the good man.
[tr. Bolland (1877)]

The good citizen need not of necessity possess the virtue which makes a good man.
[tr. Jowett (1885)]

That it is possible for a citizen to be excellent yet not possess the virtue in accordance with which he is an excellent man, therefore, is evident.
[tr. Lord (1984)]

Evidently, then, it is possible to be a good citizen without having acquired the virtue expressed by a good man.
[tr. Reeve (1998)]


 
Added on 1-Feb-04 | Last updated 12-Feb-25
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