The Golden Themis

For from this Eunomia good laws (to say nothing of the rest) are born, although others say these arose from evil customs, which is to be understood as happening by accident. Eunomia protects kingdoms, preserves governments, Republics, and Cities, and makes small things into great ones. For the customs of nations are such as their laws are; if these are good or evil, so too must those be. Eunomia is the norm and straight edge for men to live justly, to which the words and deeds of individuals must conform. A certain famous statuary, Polycletus, made a book in his art regarding the proportion of the individual members of the human body, with respect to the parts and the whole, and called it the Rule, according to which other craftsmen could create and examine their works. Such Rules are the Axioms in all arts and sciences, which tend from their principles to their end. In republics, however, there is only Eunomia, which governs the customs and actions of all, so that they do not decline into injustice or crimes and bring many inconveniences upon themselves and others, which usually happens. For just as luxury attracts diseases, so injustice attracts losses to mortals as punishments. And conversely, just as health is the best of all goods in earthly things because it brings with it whatever else one might desire, so Justice, which is procured through Eunomia or good laws, provides many and signal benefits and advantages to men, which, since it is evident by itself and is illustrated by its own light, needs no proof.