Why Good Men Need Few Laws and the Nature of Law

Notes

1. §106.1Ὀλίγων ... νόμων δέονται — The verb δέομαι (to need) takes the genitive case (ὀλίγων νόμων). The adjective ὀλίγων and its noun νόμων are separated by the subject οἱ ἀγαθοὶ, forming a hyperbaton.
2. §106.1τὰ πράγματα πρὸς τοὺς νόμους ... τίθενται — The negative particle οὐ negates the whole structure of the first clause, meaning 'affairs are not established with a view to the laws.' The passive verb τίθενται serves as the common predicate for both the οὐ-clause and the ἀλλά-clause. The preposition πρὸς with the accusative expresses conformity or standard ('in accordance with', 'to suit').