On the Magistrates and Republic of Venice

or horses, but a creature far superior protects and rules the brute animals: I mean man, who is known to all to be far superior to the beasts. Therefore, it should be no different for a being that is more excellent and divine than man to moderate and rule man, if things are to turn out according to the intention of the mind. But since, among worldly things that are perceived by the senses, it is impossible to find anything better or more excellent than man; and since man is a certain variable animal and consists of widely different parts—for he has a communion with beasts through the inferior powers of the soul, yet through the highest parts he touches, in a way, the immortal gods—that which is divine in man should rightly hold the place of governor and moderator among men. This, by the consensus of all, is the mind, a certain ray of divine splendor implanted by nature in the souls of men. Therefore, it will not be sufficiently provided for the republic if the government is committed to a man whom those brute forces often disturb and call away from the straight path...