MENO   by Plato   Translated by Benjamin Jowett Contents INTRODUCTION. ON THE IDEAS OF PLATO. MENO INTRODUCTION. This Dialogue begins abruptly with a question of Meno, who asks, ‘whether virtue can be taught.’ Socrates replies that he does not as yet know what virtue is, and has never known anyone who did. ‘Then […]

MENEXENUS   by Plato (see Appendix I)   Translated by Benjamin Jowett Contents APPENDIX I. MENEXENUS INTRODUCTION. PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE: Socrates and Menexenus. APPENDIX I. It seems impossible to separate by any exact line the genuine writings of Plato from the spurious. The only external evidence to them which is of much value is […]

GORGIAS   by Plato   Translated by Benjamin Jowett Contents INTRODUCTION. GORGIAS INTRODUCTION. In several of the dialogues of Plato, doubts have arisen among his interpreters as to which of the various subjects discussed in them is the main thesis. The speakers have the freedom of conversation; no severe rules of art restrict them, and […]

CRITIAS   by Plato Translated by Benjamin Jowett Contents INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. CRITIAS. INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. The Critias is a fragment which breaks off in the middle of a sentence. It was designed to be the second part of a trilogy, which, like the other great Platonic trilogy of the Sophist, Statesman, Philosopher, was never […]

CRATYLUS   By Plato   Translated by Benjamin Jowett Contents INTRODUCTION. CRATYLUS INTRODUCTION. The Cratylus has always been a source of perplexity to the student of Plato. While in fancy and humour, and perfection of style and metaphysical originality, this dialogue may be ranked with the best of the Platonic writings, there has been an […]

THE WRITINGS OF THOMAS PAINE THE AGE OF REASON – PART I and II   By Thomas Paine Collected And Edited By Moncure Daniel Conway   VOLUME IV. (1796) Contents THE AGE OF REASON EDITOR’S INTRODUCTION  CHAPTER I – THE AUTHOR’S PROFESSION OF FAITH. CHAPTER II – OF MISSIONS AND REVELATIONS. CHAPTER III – CONCERNING […]

THE AMERICAN CRISIS. EDITOR’S PREFACE. THOMAS PAINE, in his Will, speaks of this work as The American Crisis, remembering perhaps that a number of political pamphlets had appeared in London, 1775-1776, under general title of “The Crisis.” By the blunder of an early English publisher of Paine’s writings, one essay in the London “Crisis” was […]

MANIFESTO OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY [From the English edition of 1888, edited by Friedrich Engels] A spectre is haunting Europe—the spectre of Communism. All the Powers of old Europe have entered into a holy alliance to exorcise this spectre: Pope and Czar, Metternich and Guizot, French Radicals and German police-spies. Where is the party in […]

THE PRINCE by Nicolo Machiavelli Translated by W. K. Marriott Nicolo Machiavelli, born at Florence on 3rd May 1469. From 1494 to 1512 held an official post at Florence which included diplomatic missions to various European courts. Imprisoned in Florence, 1512; later exiled and returned to San Casciano. Died at Florence on 22nd June 1527. […]

HISTORY OF FLORENCE AND OF THE AFFAIRS OF ITALY FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO THE DEATH OF LORENZO THE MAGNIFICENT By Niccolo Machiavelli Contents INTRODUCTION THE FLORENTINE HISTORY OF NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI BOOK I CHAPTER I CHAPTER II CHAPTER III CHAPTER IV CHAPTER V CHAPTER VI CHAPTER VII BOOK II CHAPTER I CHAPTER II CHAPTER III […]