Source edition
Aristotle Epistulae. Epistolographi Graeci. Hercher, Rudolph, editor. Paris: A. F. Didot, 1873.
Source data
Open Greek and Latin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This collection of short letters, addressed to King Philip of Macedon and Alexander the Great, outlines the essential virtues and duties required of a ruler. The work presents practical ethics for facing the vicissitudes of fortune, emphasizing the cultivation of ruler-befitting virtues, the bestowment of favors, and the control of anger. It further discusses the importance of swift reconciliation by comparing temporary and long-term injustices, highlighting generosity as a preparation for sudden shifts in fortune. Finally, the letters touch upon the paradoxical nature of publishing academic lectures. Through these diverse topics, the work offers concise wisdom ranging from political and ethical guidance for rulers to insights on the transmission of knowledge.