Now, as it belongs to the first to direct the
inferior magistrates and to act as judges, it follows that they can
neither determine causes with justice nor issue their orders with
propriety without they know the characters of their fellow-citizens:
so that whenever this happens not to be done in these two particulars,
the state must of necessity be badly managed; for in both of them it
is not right to determine too hastily and without proper knowledge,
which must evidently be the case where the number of the citizens is
too many: besides, it is more easy for strangers and sojourners to
assume the rights of citizens, as they will easily escape detection in
so great a multitude. It is evident, then, that the best boundary for
a city is that wherein the numbers are the greatest possible, that
they may be the better able to be sufficient in themselves, while at
the same time they are not too large to be under the eye and
government of the magistrates. And thus let us determine the extent of
a city.
CHAPTER V
What we have said concerning a city may nearly be applied to a
country; for as to what soil it should be, every one evidently will
commend it if it is such as is sufficient in itself to furnish what
will make the inhabitants happy; for which purpose it must be able to
supply them with all the necessaries of life; for it is the having
these in plenty, without any want, which makes them content. As to its
extent, it should be such as may enable the inhabitants to live at
their ease with freedom and temperance.
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