Al-Farabi Quotes on Politics
Abu Nasr al-Farabi was a Persian philosopher and one of the greatest figures of the Islamic Golden Age, known to later tradition as the Second Teacher, after Aristotle. This page collects quotes attributed to Al-Farabi on the topic of politics, drawn from across the philosopher's works.
Quotes
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Attributed to Al-Farabi:
“The excellent city is one whose people unite in pursuit of the most excellent things.”
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Attributed to Al-Farabi:
“The first ruler is the one to whom an entire community gives obedience, and is bound to him.”
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Attributed to Al-Farabi:
“Man cannot attain perfection except through the help of others; he must therefore associate with them.”
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“A just city should favor justice and the just, hate tyranny and injustice, and give them both their just desserts.”
H. Gibb et al. , eds., "Mazalim", The Dictionary of Islam vol. IV (Leiden: Brill, 1991)