Aristotle Portrait

"Man is by nature a social animal."

— Aristotle

Man Is By Nature A Social

Man is by nature a social animal.

— Aristotle

About this quote

In Politics 1253a, Aristotle argues that humans are inherently political beings (zoon politikon) who naturally form communities. Anyone who lives outside the city-state, he reasons, is "either a beast or a god." This foundational claim underpins his entire political philosophy, establishing that civic life is not merely conventional but rooted in human nature.

Source

Politics, Book I, Chapter 2