Andsoingymnastics,ifamantakesviolentexerciseandisagreatfeeder,andthereverseofagreatstudentofmusicandphilosophy,atfirstthehighconditionofhisbodyfillshimwithprideandspirit,andliebecomestwicethemanthathewas。
  Certainly。
  Andwhathappens?ifhedonothingelse,andholdsnocon—aversewiththeMuses,doesnoteventhatintelligencewhichtheremaybeinhim,havingnotasteofanysortoflearningorenquiryorthoughtorculture,growfeebleanddullandblind,hismindneverwakinguporreceivingnourishment,andhissensesnotbeingpurgedoftheirmists?
  True,hesaid。
  Andheendsbybecomingahaterofphilosophy,uncivilized,neverusingtheweaponofpersuasion,——heislikeawildbeast,allviolenceandfierceness,andknowsnootherwayofdealing;andhelivesinallignoranceandevilconditions,andhasnosenseofproprietyandgrace。
  Thatisquitetrue,hesaid。
  Andastherearetwoprinciplesofhumannature,onethespiritedandtheotherthephilosophical,someGod,asIshouldsay,hasgivenmankindtwoartsansweringtothem(andonlyindirectlytothesoulandbody),inorderthatthesetwoprinciples(likethestringsofaninstrument)mayberelaxedordrawntighteruntiltheyaredulyharmonised。
  Thatappearstobetheintention。
  Andhewhominglesmusicwithgymnasticinthefairestproportions,andbestattempersthemtothesoul,mayberightlycalledthetruemusicianandharmonistinafarhighersensethanthetunerofthestrings。
  Youarequiteright,Socrates。
  AndsuchapresidinggeniuswillbealwaysrequiredinourStateifthegovernmentistolast。
  Yes,hewillbeabsolutelynecessary。
  Such,then,areourprinciplesofnurtureandeducation:Wherewouldbetheuseofgoingintofurtherdetailsaboutthedancesofourcitizens,orabouttheirhuntingandcoursing,theirgymnasticandequestriancontests?Fortheseallfollowthegeneralprinciple,andhavingfoundthat,weshallhavenodifficultyindiscoveringthem。
  Idaresaythattherewillbenodifficulty。
  Verygood,Isaid;thenwhatisthenextquestion?Mustwenotaskwhoaretoberulersandwhosubjects?
  Certainly。
  Therecanbenodoubtthattheeldermustruletheyounger。
  Clearly。
  Andthatthebestofthesemustrule。
  Thatisalsoclear。
  Now,arenotthebesthusbandmenthosewhoaremostdevotedtohusbandry?
  Yes。
  Andaswearetohavethebestofguardiansforourcity,musttheynotbethosewhohavemostthecharacterofguardians?
  Yes。
  Andtothisendtheyoughttobewiseandefficient,andtohaveaspecialcareoftheState?
  True。
  Andamanwillbemostlikelytocareaboutthatwhichheloves?
  Tobesure。
  Andhewillbemostlikelytolovethatwhichheregardsashavingthesameinterestswithhimself,andthatofwhichthegoodorevilfortuneissupposedbyhimatanytimemosttoaffecthisown?
  Verytrue,hereplied。
  Thentheremustbeaselection。Letusnoteamongtheguardiansthosewhointheirwholelifeshowthegreatesteagernesstodowhatisforthegoodoftheircountry,andthegreatestrepugnancetodowhatisagainstherinterests。
  Thosearetherightmen。
  Andtheywillhavetobewatchedateveryage,inorderthatwemayseewhethertheypreservetheirresolution,andnever,undertheinfluenceeitherofforceorenchantment,forgetorcastofftheirsenseofdutytotheState。
  Howcastoff?hesaid。
  Iwillexplaintoyou,Ireplied。Aresolutionmaygooutofaman’smindeitherwithhiswilloragainsthiswill;withhiswillwhenhegetsridofafalsehoodandlearnsbetter,againsthiswillwheneverheisdeprivedofatruth。
  Iunderstand,hesaid,thewillinglossofaresolution;themeaningoftheunwillingIhaveyettolearn。
  Why,Isaid,doyounotseethatmenareunwillinglydeprivedofgood,andwillinglyofevil?Isnottohavelostthetruthanevil,andtopossessthetruthagood?andyouwouldagreethattoconceivethingsastheyareistopossessthetruth?
  Yes,hereplied;Iagreewithyouinthinkingthatmankindaredeprivedoftruthagainsttheirwill。
  Andisnotthisinvoluntarydeprivationcausedeitherbytheft,orforce,orenchantment?
  Still,hereplied,Idonotunderstandyou。
  IfearthatImusthavebeentalkingdarkly,likethetragedians。
  Ionlymeanthatsomemenarechangedbypersuasionandthatothersforget;argumentstealsawaytheheartsofoneclass,andtimeoftheother;andthisIcalltheft。Nowyouunderstandme?
  Yes。
  Thoseagainwhoareforcedarethosewhomtheviolenceofsomepainorgriefcompelstochangetheiropinion。
  Iunderstand,hesaid,andyouarequiteright。
  Andyouwouldalsoacknowledgethattheenchantedarethosewhochangetheirmindseitherunderthesofterinfluenceofpleasure,orthesternerinfluenceoffear?
  Yes,hesaid;everythingthatdeceivesmaybesaidtoenchant。
  Therefore,asIwasjustnowsaying,wemustenquirewhoarethebestguardiansoftheirownconvictionthatwhattheythinktheinterestoftheStateistobetheruleoftheirlives。Wemustwatchthemfromtheiryouthupwards,andmakethemperformactionsinwhichtheyaremostlikelytoforgetortobedeceived,andhewhoremembersandisnotdeceivedistobeselected,andhewhofallsinthetrialistoberejected。Thatwillbetheway?
  Yes。
  Andthereshouldalsobetoilsandpainsandconflictsprescribedforthem,inwhichtheywillbemadetogivefurtherproofofthesamequalities。
  Veryright,hereplied。
  Andthen,Isaid,wemusttrythemwithenchantmentsthatisthethirdsortoftest——andseewhatwillbetheirbehaviour:likethosewhotakecoltsamidnoiseandtumulttoseeiftheyareofatimidnature,somustwetakeouryouthamidterrorsofsomekind,andagainpassthemintopleasures,andprovethemmorethoroughlythangoldisprovedinthefurnace,thatwemaydiscoverwhethertheyarearmedagainstallenchantments,andofanoblebearingalways,goodguardiansofthemselvesandofthemusicwhichtheyhavelearned,andretainingunderallcircumstancesarhythmicalandharmoniousnature,suchaswillbemostserviceabletotheindividualandtotheState。Andhewhoateveryage,asboyandyouthandinmaturelife,hascomeoutofthetrialvictoriousandpure,shallbeappointedarulerandguardianoftheState;heshallbehonouredinlifeanddeath,andshallreceivesepultureandothermemorialsofhonour,thegreatestthatwehavetogive。Buthimwhofails,wemustreject。Iaminclinedtothinkthatthisisthesortofwayinwhichourrulersandguardiansshouldbechosenandappointed。Ispeakgenerally,andnotwithanypretensiontoexactness。
  And,speakinggenerally,Iagreewithyou,hesaid。
  Andperhapstheword’guardian’inthefullestsenseoughttobeappliedtothishigherclassonlywhopreserveusagainstforeignenemiesandmaintainpeaceamongourcitizensathome,thattheonemaynothavethewill,ortheothersthepower,toharmus。Theyoungmenwhomwebeforecalledguardiansmaybemoreproperlydesignatedauxiliariesandsupportersoftheprinciplesoftherulers。
  Iagreewithyou,hesaid。
  Howthenmaywedeviseoneofthoseneedfulfalsehoodsofwhichwelatelyspoke——justoneroyalliewhichmaydeceivetherulers,ifthatbepossible,andatanyratetherestofthecity?
  Whatsortoflie?hesaid。
  Nothingnew,Ireplied;onlyanoldPhoeniciantaleofwhathasoftenoccurredbeforenowinotherplaces,(asthepoetssay,andhavemadetheworldbelieve,)thoughnotinourtime,andIdonotknowwhethersuchaneventcouldeverhappenagain,orcouldnowevenbemadeprobable,ifitdid。
  Howyourwordsseemtohesitateonyourlips!
  Youwillnotwonder,Ireplied,atmyhesitationwhenyouhaveheard。
  Speak,hesaid,andfearnot。
  Wellthen,Iwillspeak,althoughIreallyknownothowtolookyouintheface,orinwhatwordstouttertheaudaciousfiction,whichIproposetocommunicategradually,firsttotherulers,thentothesoldiers,andlastlytothepeople。Theyaretobetoldthattheiryouthwasadream,andtheeducationandtrainingwhichtheyreceivedfromus,anappearanceonly;inrealityduringallthattimetheywerebeingformedandfedinthewomboftheearth,wheretheythemselvesandtheirarmsandappurtenancesweremanufactured;
  whentheywerecompleted,theearth,theirmother,sentthemup;andso,theircountrybeingtheirmotherandalsotheirnurse,theyareboundtoadviseforhergood,andtodefendheragainstattacks,andhercitizenstheyaretoregardaschildrenoftheearthandtheirownbrothers。
  Youhadgoodreason,hesaid,tobeashamedoftheliewhichyouweregoingtotell。
  True,Ireplied,butthereismorecoming;Ihaveonlytoldyouhalf。Citizens,weshallsaytotheminourtale,youarebrothers,yetGodhasframedyoudifferently。Someofyouhavethepowerofcommand,andinthecompositionofthesehehasmingledgold,whereforealsotheyhavethegreatesthonour;othershehasmadeofsilver,tobeauxillaries;othersagainwhoaretobehusbandmenandcraftsmenhehascomposedofbrassandiron;andthespecieswillgenerallybepreservedinthechildren。Butasallareofthesameoriginalstock,agoldenparentwillsometimeshaveasilverson,orasilverparentagoldenson。AndGodproclaimsasafirstprincipletotherulers,andaboveallelse,thatthereisnothingwhichshouldsoanxiouslyguard,orofwhichtheyaretobesuchgoodguardians,asofthepurityoftherace。Theyshouldobservewhatelementsmingleintheiroffspring;forifthesonofagoldenorsilverparenthasanadmixtureofbrassandiron,thennatureordersatranspositionofranks,andtheeyeoftherulermustnotbepitifultowardsthechildbecausehehastodescendinthescaleandbecomeahusbandmanorartisan,justastheremaybesonsofartisanswhohavinganadmixtureofgoldorsilverinthemareraisedtohonour,andbecomeguardiansorauxiliaries。ForanoraclesaysthatwhenamanofbrassorironguardstheState,itwillbedestroyed。Suchisthetale;isthereanypossibilityofmakingourcitizensbelieveinit?
  Notinthepresentgeneration,hereplied;thereisnowayofaccomplishingthis;buttheirsonsmaybemadetobelieveinthetale,andtheirsons’sons,andposterityafterthem。
  Iseethedifficulty,Ireplied;yetthefosteringofsuchabeliefwillmakethemcaremoreforthecityandforoneanother。
  Enough,however,ofthefiction,whichmaynowflyabroaduponthewingsofrumour,whilewearmourearth—bornheroes,andleadthemforthunderthecommandoftheirrulers。Letthemlookroundandselectaspotwhencetheycanbestsuppressinsurrection,ifanyproverefractorywithin,andalsodefendthemselvesagainstenemies,wholikewolvesmaycomedownonthefoldfromwithout;thereletthemencamp,andwhentheyhaveencamped,letthemsacrificetotheproperGodsandpreparetheirdwellings。
  Justso,hesaid。
  Andtheirdwellingsmustbesuchaswillshieldthemagainstthecoldofwinterandtheheatofsummer。
  Isupposethatyoumeanhouses,hereplied。
  Yes,Isaid;buttheymustbethehousesofsoldiers,andnotofshop—keepers。
  Whatisthedifference?hesaid。
  ThatIwillendeavourtoexplain,Ireplied。Tokeepwatchdogs,who,fromwantofdisciplineorhunger,orsomeevilhabit,orevilhabitorother,wouldturnuponthesheepandworrythem,andbehavenotlikedogsbutwolves,wouldbeafoulandmonstrousthinginashepherd?
  Trulymonstrous,hesaid。
  Andthereforeeverycaremustbetakenthatourauxiliaries,beingstrongerthanourcitizens,maynotgrowtobetoomuchforthemandbecomesavagetyrantsinsteadoffriendsandallies?
  Yes,greatcareshouldbetaken。
  Andwouldnotareallygoodeducationfurnishthebestsafeguard?
  Buttheyarewell—educatedalready,hereplied。
  Icannotbesoconfident,mydearGlaucon,Isaid;Iammuchcertainthattheyoughttobe,andthattrueeducation,whateverthatmaybe,willhavethegreatesttendencytocivilizeandhumanizethemintheirrelationstooneanother,andtothosewhoareundertheirprotection。
  Verytrue,hereplied。
  Andnotonlytheireducation,buttheirhabitations,andallthatbelongstothem,shouldbesuchaswillneitherimpairtheirvirtueasguardians,nortemptthemtopreyupontheothercitizens。Anymanofsensemustacknowledgethat。
  Hemust。
  Thenletusconsiderwhatwillbetheirwayoflife,iftheyaretorealizeourideaofthem。Inthefirstplace,noneofthemshouldhaveanypropertyofhisownbeyondwhatisabsolutelynecessary;
  neithershouldtheyhaveaprivatehouseorstoreclosedagainstanyonewhohasamindtoenter;theirprovisionsshouldbeonlysuchasarerequiredbytrainedwarriors,whoaremenoftemperanceandcourage;theyshouldagreetoreceivefromthecitizensafixedrateofpay,enoughtomeettheexpensesoftheyearandnomore;andtheywillgoandlivetogetherlikesoldiersinacamp。GoldandsilverwewilltellthemthattheyhavefromGod;thedivinermetaliswithinthem,andtheyhavethereforenoneedofthedrosswhichiscurrentamongmen,andoughtnottopollutethedivinebyanysuchearthlyadmixture;forthatcommonermetalhasbeenthesourceofmanyunholydeeds,buttheirownisundefiled。Andtheyaloneofallthecitizensmaynottouchorhandlesilverorgold,orbeunderthesameroofwiththem,orwearthem,ordrinkfromthem。Andthiswillbetheirsalvation,andtheywillbethesavioursoftheState。Butshouldtheyeveracquirehomesorlandsormoneysoftheirown,theywillbecomehousekeepersandhusbandmeninsteadofguardians,enemiesandtyrantsinsteadofalliesoftheothercitizens;hatingandbeinghated,plottingandbeingplottedagainst,theywillpasstheirwholelifeinmuchgreaterterrorofinternalthanofexternalenemies,andthehourofruin,bothtothemselvesandtotherestoftheState,willbeathand。ForallwhichreasonsmaywenotsaythatthusshallourStatebeordered,andthattheseshallbetheregulationsappointedbyusforguardiansconcerningtheirhousesandallothermatters?otherYes,saidGlaucon。
  BOOKIV
  ADEIMANTUS—SOCRATES
  HEREAdeimantusinterposedaquestion:Howwouldyouanswer,Socrates,saidhe,ifapersonweretosaythatyouaremakingthesepeoplemiserable,andthattheyarethecauseoftheirownunhappiness;thecityinfactbelongstothem,buttheyarenonethebetterforit;whereasothermenacquirelands,andbuildlargeandhandsomehouses,andhaveeverythinghandsomeaboutthem,offeringsacrificestothegodsontheirownaccount,andpractisinghospitality;moreover,asyouweresayingjustnow,theyhavegoldandsilver,andallthatisusualamongthefavouritesoffortune;butourpoorcitizensarenobetterthanmercenarieswhoarequarteredinthecityandarealwaysmountingguard?
  Yes,Isaid;andyoumayaddthattheyareonlyfed,andnotpaidinadditiontotheirfood,likeothermen;andthereforetheycannot,iftheywould,takeajourneyofpleasure;theyhavenomoneytospendonamistressoranyotherluxuriousfancy,which,astheworldgoes,isthoughttobehappiness;andmanyotheraccusationsofthesamenaturemightbeadded。
  But,saidhe,letussupposeallthistobeincludedinthecharge。
  Youmeantoask,Isaid,whatwillbeouranswer?
  Yes。
  Ifweproceedalongtheoldpath,mybelief,Isaid,isthatweshallfindtheanswer。Andouranswerwillbethat,evenastheyare,ourguardiansmayverylikelybethehappiestofmen;butthatouraiminfoundingtheStatewasnotthedisproportionatehappinessofanyoneclass,butthegreatesthappinessofthewhole;wethoughtthatinaStatewhichisorderedwithaviewtothegoodofthewholeweshouldbemostlikelytofindJustice,andintheill—orderedStateinjustice:and,havingfoundthem,wemightthendecidewhichofthetwoisthehappier。Atpresent,Itakeit,wearefashioningthehappyState,notpiecemeal,orwithaviewofmakingafewhappycitizens,butasawhole;andby—and—bywewillproceedtoviewtheoppositekindofState。Supposethatwewerepaintingastatue,andsomeonecameuptousandsaid,Whydoyounotputthemostbeautifulcoloursonthemostbeautifulpartsofthebody——theeyesoughttobepurple,butyouhavemadethemblack——tohimwemightfairlyanswer,Sir,youwouldnotsurelyhaveusbeautifytheeyestosuchadegreethattheyarenolongereyes;considerratherwhether,bygivingthisandtheotherfeaturestheirdueproportion,wemakethewholebeautiful。AndsoIsaytoyou,donotcompelustoassigntotheguardiansasortofhappinesswhichwillmakethemanythingbutguardians;forwetoocanclotheourhusbandmeninroyalapparel,andsetcrownsofgoldontheirheads,andbidthemtillthegroundasmuchastheylike,andnomore。Ourpottersalsomightbeallowedtoreposeoncouches,andfeastbythefireside,passingroundthewinecup,whiletheirwheelisconvenientlyathand,andworkingatpotteryonlyasmuchastheylike;inthiswaywemightmakeeveryclasshappy—andthen,asyouimagine,thewholeStatewouldbehappy。Butdonotputthisideaintoourheads;for,ifwelistentoyou,thehusbandmanwillbenolongerahusbandman,thepotterwillceasetobeapotter,andnoonewillhavethecharacterofanydistinctclassintheState。Nowthisisnotofmuchconsequencewherethecorruptionofsociety,andpretensiontobewhatyouarenot,isconfinedtocobblers;butwhentheguardiansofthelawsandofthegovernmentareonlyseeminglyandnotrealguardians,thenseehowtheyturntheStateupsidedown;andontheotherhandtheyalonehavethepowerofgivingorderandhappinesstotheState。WemeanourguardianstobetruesavioursandnotthedestroyersoftheState,whereasouropponentisthinkingofpeasantsatafestival,whoareenjoyingalifeofrevelry,notofcitizenswhoaredoingtheirdutytotheState。But,ifso,wemeandifferentthings,andheisspeakingofsomethingwhichisnotaState。Andthereforewemustconsiderwhetherinappointingourguardianswewouldlooktotheirgreatesthappinessindividually,orwhetherthisprincipleofhappinessdoesnotratherresideintheStateasawhole。Butthelatterbethetruth,thentheguardiansandauxillaries,andallothersequallywiththem,mustbecompelledorinducedtodotheirownworkinthebestway。AndthusthewholeStatewillgrowupinanobleorder,andtheseveralclasseswillreceivetheproportionofhappinesswhichnatureassignstothem。
  Ithinkthatyouarequiteright。
  Iwonderwhetheryouwillagreewithanotherremarkwhichoccurstome。
  Whatmaythatbe?
  Thereseemtobetwocausesofthedeteriorationofthearts。
  Whatarethey?
  Wealth,Isaid,andpoverty。
  Howdotheyact?
  Theprocessisasfollows:Whenapotterbecomesrich,willhe,thinkyou,anylongertakethesamepainswithhisart?
  Certainlynot。
  Hewillgrowmoreandmoreindolentandcareless?
  Verytrue。
  Andtheresultwillbethathebecomesaworsepotter?
  Yes;hegreatlydeteriorates。
  But,ontheotherhand,ifhehasnomoney,andcannotprovidehimselftoolsorinstruments,hewillnotworkequallywellhimself,norwillheteachhissonsorapprenticestoworkequallywell。
  Certainlynot。
  Then,undertheinfluenceeitherofpovertyorofwealth,workmenandtheirworkareequallyliabletodegenerate?
  Thatisevident。
  Here,then,isadiscoveryofnewevils,Isaid,againstwhichtheguardianswillhavetowatch,ortheywillcreepintothecityunobserved。
  Whatevils?
  Wealth,Isaid,andpoverty;theoneistheparentofluxuryandindolence,andtheotherofmeannessandviciousness,andbothofdiscontent。
  Thatisverytrue,hereplied;butstillIshouldliketoknow,Socrates,howourcitywillbeabletogotowar,especiallyagainstanenemywhoisrichandpowerful,ifdeprivedofthesinewsofwar。
  Therewouldcertainlybeadifficulty,Ireplied,ingoingtowarwithonesuchenemy;butthereisnodifficultywheretherearetwoofthem。
  Howso?heasked。
  Inthefirstplace,Isaid,ifwehavetofight,oursidewillbetrainedwarriorsfightingagainstanarmyofrichmen。
  Thatistrue,hesaid。
  Anddoyounotsuppose,Adeimantus,thatasingleboxerwhowasperfectinhisartwouldeasilybeamatchfortwostoutandwell—to—dogentlemenwhowerenotboxers?
  Hardly,iftheycameuponhimatonce。
  What,not,Isaid,ifhewereabletorunawayandthenturnandstrikeattheonewhofirstcameup?Andsupposingheweretodothisseveraltimesundertheheatofascorchingsun,mighthenot,beinganexpert,overturnmorethanonestoutpersonage?
  Certainly,hesaid,therewouldbenothingwonderfulinthat。
  Andyetrichmenprobablyhaveagreatersuperiorityinthescienceandpracticeofboxingthantheyhaveinmilitaryqualities。
  Likelyenough。
  Thenwemayassumethatourathleteswillbeabletofightwithtwoorthreetimestheirownnumber?
  Iagreewithyou,forIthinkyouright。
  Andsupposethat,beforeengaging,ourcitizenssendanembassytooneofthetwocities,tellingthemwhatisthetruth:Silverandgoldweneitherhavenorarepermittedtohave,butyoumay;doyouthereforecomeandhelpusinwar,ofandtakethespoilsoftheothercity:Who,onhearingthesewords,wouldchoosetofightagainstleanwirydogs,ratherththan,withthedogsontheirside,againstfatandtendersheep?
  Thatisnotlikely;andyettheremightbeadangertothepoorStateifthewealthofmanyStatesweretobegatheredintoone。
  ButhowsimpleofyoutousethetermStateatallofanybutourown!
  Whyso?
  YououghttospeakofotherStatesinthepluralnumber;notoneofthemisacity,butmanycities,astheysayinthegame。Forindeedanycity,howeversmall,isinfactdividedintotwo,onethecityofthepoor,theotheroftherich;theseareatwarwithoneanother;andineithertherearemanysmallerdivisions,andyouwouldbealtogetherbesidethemarkifyoutreatedthemallasasingleState。Butifyoudealwiththemasmany,andgivethewealthorpowerorpersonsoftheonetotheothers,youwillalwayshaveagreatmanyfriendsandnotmanyenemies。AndyourState,whilethewiseorderwhichhasnowbeenprescribedcontinuestoprevailinher,willbethegreatestofStates,Idonotmeantosayinreputationorappearance,butindeedandtruth,thoughshenumbernotmorethanathousanddefenders。AsingleStatewhichisherequalyouwillhardlyfind,eitheramongHellenesorbarbarians,thoughmanythatappeartobeasgreatandmanytimesgreater。
  Thatismosttrue,hesaid。
  Andwhat,Isaid,willbethebestlimitforourrulerstofixwhentheyareconsideringthesizeoftheStateandtheamountofterritorywhichtheyaretoinclude,andbeyondwhichtheywillnotgo?
  Whatlimitwouldyoupropose?
  IwouldallowtheStatetoincreasesofarasisconsistentwithunity;that,Ithink,istheproperlimit。
  Verygood,hesaid。