The Complete Aristotle (eng.)

were just now speaking should be taken in at a single view,
for a country which is easily seen can be easily protected. As to
the position of the city, if we could have what we wish, it should
be well situated in regard both to sea and land. This then is one
principle, that it should be a convenient center for the protection
of the whole country: the other is, that it should be suitable for
receiving the fruits of the soil, and also for the bringing in of
timber and any other products that are easily transported.
VI
    Whether a communication with the sea is beneficial to a
well-ordered state or not is a question which has often been asked.
It is argued that the introduction of strangers brought up under
other laws, and the increase of population, will be adverse to good
order; the increase arises from their using the sea and having a
crowd of merchants coming and going, and is inimical to good
government. Apart from these considerations, it would be
undoubtedly better, both with a view to safety and to the provision
of necessaries, that the city and territory should be connected
with the sea; the defenders of a country, if they are to maintain
themselves against an enemy, should be easily relieved both by land
and by sea; and even if they are not able to attack by sea and land
at once, they will have less difficulty in doing mischief to their
assailants on one element, if they themselves can use both.
Moreover, it is necessary that they should import from abroad what
is not found in their own country, and that they should export what
they have in excess; for a city ought to be a market, not indeed
for others, but for herself.
    Those who make themselves a market for the world only do so for
the sake of revenue, and if a state ought not to desire profit of
this kind it ought not to have such an emporium. Nowadays we often
see in countries and cities dockyards and harbors very conveniently
placed outside the city, but not too far off; and they are kept in
dependence by walls and similar fortifications. Cities thus
situated manifestly reap the benefit of intercourse with their
ports; and any harm which is likely to accrue may be easily guarded
against by the laws, which will pronounce and determine who may
hold communication with one another, and who may not.
    There can be no doubt that the possession of a moderate naval
force is advantageous to a city; the city should be formidable not
only to its own citizens but to some of its neighbors, or, if
necessary, able to assist them by sea as well as by land. The
proper number or magnitude of this naval force is relative to the
character of the state; for if her function is to take a leading
part in politics, her naval power should be commensurate with the
scale of her enterprises. The population of the state need not be
much increased, since there is no necessity that the sailors should
be citizens: the marines who have the control and command will be
freemen, and belong also to the infantry; and wherever there is a
dense population of Perioeci and husbandmen, there will always be
sailors more than enough. Of this we see instances at the present
day. The city of Heraclea, for example, although small in
comparison with many others, can man a considerable fleet. Such are
our conclusions respecting the territory of the state, its harbors,
its towns, its relations to the sea, and its maritime power.
VII
    Having spoken of the number of the citizens, we will proceed to
speak of what should be their character. This is a subject which
can be easily understood by any one who casts his eye on the more
celebrated states of Hellas, and generally on the distribution of
races in the habitable world. Those who live in a cold climate and
in Europe are full of spirit, but wanting in intelligence and
skill; and therefore they retain comparative freedom, but have no
political organization, and are incapable of ruling over others.
Whereas the natives of Asia are intelligent and inventive, but they
are wanting in spirit, and therefore they are always in a state of
subjection and slavery. But the Hellenic race, which is situated
between them, is likewise intermediate in character, being
high-spirited and also intelligent. Hence it continues free, and is
the best-governed of any nation, and, if it could be formed into
one state, would be able to rule the world. There are also similar
differences in the different tribes of Hellas; for some of them are
of a one-sided nature, and are intelligent or