Today political science is often said to be ‘descriptive’ or ‘empirical,’ concerned with facts; political philosophy is called ‘normative’ because it expresses values. But these terms merely repeat in more abstract form the difference between political science, which seeks agreement, and political philosophy, which seeks the best.

— Harvey Mansfield A Student’s Guide to Political Philosophy (2001)

More quotes by Harvey Mansfield

How to Understand Politics: What the Humanities Can Say to Science (2007)

How to Understand Politics: What the Humanities Can Say to Science (2007)

How to Understand Politics: What the Humanities Can Say to Science (2007)

How to Understand Politics: What the Humanities Can Say to Science (2007)

How to Understand Politics: What the Humanities Can Say to Science (2007)

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Harvey Mansfield (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.