Who said, “Man is a social animal”?

The profound statement, "Man is a social animal", is a cornerstone of political philosophy and is famously attributed to Aristotle. He posited that humans are inherently communal beings, naturally inclined to live in a polis (city-state) because it is within a community that individuals can achieve their full potential and lead a virtuous life.

• Plato, Aristotle's teacher, focused on ideal forms and the structure of the Republic, but this specific quote is not associated with him.
• Karl Marx's theories primarily revolved around class struggle, economic systems, and historical materialism, which are distinct from Aristotle's foundational view on human nature.
• Sigmund Freud was the pioneer of psychoanalysis, concentrating on the unconscious mind, human psychology, and individual development, rather than political philosophy.