The subjects

you administer others among the subjects (raʻāyā) and are yourself administered by another among kings.

And the fourth division is the execution of the subjects' affairs according to the customs and dealings they are accustomed to, in which they have differed until they came to be knit together by them;

and the fourth, his defence of the subjects (al-raʻīyah) against fear and disorder.

and if the subjects are weak, susceptible of being set straight and brought into balance — so that, were the matter supposed otherwise than we have described, the welfare of the king and the soundness of the subjects' condition would be impossible — just so, justice of character is not ordered in the human world save by the rational soul's having mastery over the other two souls, disposing of them …

the man with the best claim to kingship is the one who most loves the setting right of the subjects, the most knowing in management, the most sovereign over his own passion and the most subduing of it in what touches the interests of the kingdom, and the most capable of spreading justice through it and lifting oppression from it;

the best of kings is the most thankful of them to God, the purest of them from what He has forbidden, the greatest of them in magnifying His command, the most discharging of them of rights, the most merciful of them to the subjects, the furthest-seeing of them in consequences and the most fearful of them of the turns of fortune;

but despots are never at peace with the people subject to their despotism, and no truce can ever make a despot confident.

There are, of course, wars that are waged by states against one another, and wars waged by the despot against his oppressed subjects.

Or again, how can you say that despots more than others are able to crush enemies, when they know well that all who are subject to their despotism are their enemies and that it is impossible to put them all to death or imprison them—else who will be left for the despot to rule over?

You must care for the people and make it your first consideration to rule acceptably to them, knowing that all governments—oligarchies as well as the others—have the longest life when they best serve the masses.

Let it be a sign to you that you rule wisely if you see all your subjects growing more prosperous and more temperate because of your oversight.

I have dwelt on these matters because I think that you, who are not one of the multitude but a king over the multitude, ought not to be of the same mind as men at large;

but as to the love of one’s subjects— and this, it seems to me at least, is one of the most important questions—the same course that you would take if you wished to gain the affection of your friends leads also to that;

but to show that you rejoice with them if any good befall them, that you sympathize with them if any ill betide, that you are eager to help them in times of distress, that you are anxious that they be not crossed in any way, and that you try to prevent their being crossed;