The Secret of Secrets of Aristotle

concerning the cause for which dominion or government is acquired or desired: it will not be the acquisition of fame, but of envy. Envy, therefore, generates deceit, which is the root of reprehensible things and the material of vices. Deceit generates detraction, but detraction generates hatred, hatred generates injury, injury generates obstinacy, obstinacy generates anger, anger generates conflict, conflict generates enmity, enmity generates war. War truly dissolves laws and destroys cities, and this is contrary to nature; and whatever is contrary to nature destroys the whole. Study, therefore, and cherish the desire for good fame, for reason, through the desire for good fame, elicits truth. Truth is the root of praiseworthy things and the material of all goods; it is contrary to deceit and generates a desire for justice. Justice, however, generates confidence, confidence generates generosity, generosity generates familiarity, familiarity generates friendship, and friendship truly generates profit and assistance. And through this, indeed, the world was established and laws were constituted for men; and this is consistent with the reason of nature. It is evident, therefore, that the desire for government for the sake of good fame is a durable and praiseworthy good.

Concerning the evils that follow from carnal appetite

Alexander, shun the attempts of beastly pleasures, for they are corruptible. Carnal appetite, indeed, inclines the mind toward the corruptible pleasures of the beastly soul without any prior discretion, and it rejoices in the corruptible body, while the incorruptible intellect is grieved. It must be known, therefore, that the attempt at beastly pleasure generates carnal love. Carnal love generates avarice, avarice generates the desire for riches, the desire for riches generates shamelessness, shamelessness generates presumption, presumption generates infidelity, infidelity generates robbery, robbery generates vilification, from which is born captivity that leads to the detriment of the law and the destruction of familiarity, and to the ruin of the whole body; and this is contrary to nature.

Concerning the wisdom of the king and religion.

First and principally, it befits a king, as far as it pertains to himself, that the fame of his name be spread in praiseworthy wisdom, and that he reason wisely with his people, because thereby he is praised and honored; thereby he is feared by men when they see him eloquent in his wisdom and acting prudently in his works.