WouldthatIcould！butyoushouldregardmeratherasafollowerwhohasjusteyesenoughto，seewhatyoushowhim——thatisaboutasmuchasIamgoodfor。
　　Offerupaprayerwithmeandfollow。
　　Iwill，butyoumustshowmetheway。
　　Hereisnopath，Isaid，andthewoodisdarkandperplexing；
　　stillwemustpushon。
　　Letuspushon。
　　HereIsawsomething：Halloo！Isaid，Ibegintoperceiveatrack，andIbelievethatthequarrywillnotescape。
　　Goodnews，hesaid。
　　Truly，Isaid，wearestupidfellows。
　　Whyso？
　　Why，mygoodsir，atthebeginningofourenquiry，agesago，therewasjusticetumblingoutatourfeet，andweneversawher；nothingcouldbemoreridiculous。Likepeoplewhogoaboutlookingforwhattheyhaveintheirhands——thatwasthewaywithus——welookednotatwhatwewereseeking，butatwhatwasfaroffinthedistance；andtherefore，Isuppose，wemissedher。
　　Whatdoyoumean？
　　Imeantosaythatinrealityforalongtimepastwehavebeentalkingofjustice，andhavefailedtorecogniseher。
　　Igrowimpatientatthelengthofyourexordium。
　　Wellthen，tellme，Isaid，whetherIamrightornot：YouremembertheoriginalprinciplewhichwewerealwayslayingdownatthefoundationoftheState，thatonemanshouldpractiseonethingonly，thethingtowhichhisnaturewasbestadapted；——nowjusticeisthisprincipleorapartofit。
　　Yes，weoftensaidthatonemanshoulddoonethingonly。
　　Further，weaffirmedthatjusticewasdoingone’sownbusiness，andnotbeingabusybody；wesaidsoagainandagain，andmanyothershavesaidthesametous。
　　Yes，wesaidso。
　　Thentodoone’sownbusinessinacertainwaymaybeassumedtobejustice。CanyoutellmewhenceIderivethisinference？
　　Icannot，butIshouldliketobetold。
　　BecauseIthinkthatthisistheonlyvirtuewhichremainsintheStatewhentheothervirtuesoftemperanceandcourageandwisdomareabstracted；and，thatthisistheultimatecauseandconditionoftheexistenceofallofthem，andwhileremaininginthemisalsotheirpreservative；andweweresayingthatifthethreewerediscoveredbyus，justicewouldbethefourthorremainingone。
　　Thatfollowsofnecessity。
　　IfweareaskedtodeterminewhichofthesefourqualitiesbyitspresencecontributesmosttotheexcellenceoftheState，whethertheagreementofrulersandsubjects，orthepreservationinthesoldiersoftheopinionwhichthelawordainsaboutthetruenatureofdangers，orwisdomandwatchfulnessintherulers，orwhetherthisotherwhichIammentioning，andwhichisfoundinchildrenandwomen，slaveandfreeman，artisan，ruler，subject，——thequality，Imean，ofeveryonedoinghisownwork，andnotbeingabusybody，wouldclaimthepalm——thequestionisnotsoeasilyanswered。
　　Certainly，hereplied，therewouldbeadifficultyinsayingwhich。
　　ThenthepowerofeachindividualintheStatetodohisownworkappearstocompetewiththeotherpoliticalvirtues，wisdom，temperance，courage。
　　Yes，hesaid。
　　Andthevirtuewhichentersintothiscompetitionisjustice？
　　Exactly。
　　Letuslookatthequestionfromanotherpointofview：ArenottherulersinaStatethosetowhomyouwouldentrusttheofficeofdeterminingsuitsatlaw？
　　Certainly。
　　Andaresuitsdecidedonanyothergroundbutthatamanmayneithertakewhatisanother’s，norbedeprivedofwhatishisown？
　　Yes；thatistheirprinciple。
　　Whichisajustprinciple？
　　Yes。
　　Thenonthisviewalsojusticewillbeadmittedtobethehavinganddoingwhatisaman’sown，andbelongstohim？
　　Verytrue。
　　Think，now，andsaywhetheryouagreewithmeornot。Supposeacarpentertobedoingthebusinessofacobbler，oracobblerofacarpenter；andsupposethemtoexchangetheirimplementsortheirduties，orthesamepersontobedoingtheworkofboth，orwhateverbethechange；doyouthinkthatanygreatharmwouldresulttotheState？
　　Notmuch。
　　Butwhenthecobbleroranyothermanwhomnaturedesignedtobeatrader，havinghisheartliftedupbywealthorstrengthorthenumberofhisfollowers，oranylikeadvantage，attemptstoforcehiswayintotheclassofwarriors，orawarriorintothatoflegislatorsandguardians，forwhichheisunfitted，andeithertotaketheimplementsorthedutiesoftheother；orwhenonemanistrader，legislator，andwarriorallinone，thenIthinkyouwillagreewithmeinsayingthatthisinterchangeandthismeddlingofonewithanotheristheruinoftheState。
　　Mosttrue。
　　Seeingthen，Isaid，thattherearethreedistinctclasses，anymeddlingofonewithanother，orthechangeofoneintoanother，isthegreatestharmtotheState，andmaybemostjustlytermedevil—doing？
　　Precisely。
　　Andthegreatestdegreeofevil—doingtoone’sowncitywouldbetermedbyyouinjustice？
　　Certainly。
　　Thisthenisinjustice；andontheotherhandwhenthetrader，theauxiliary，andtheguardianeachdotheirownbusiness，thatisjustice，andwillmakethecityjust。
　　Iagreewithyou。
　　Wewillnot，Isaid，beover—positiveasyet；butif，ontrial，thisconceptionofjusticebeverifiedintheindividualaswellasintheState，therewillbenolongeranyroomfordoubt；ifitbenotverified，wemusthaveafreshenquiry。Firstletuscompletetheoldinvestigation，whichwebegan，asyouremember，undertheimpressionthat，ifwecouldpreviouslyexaminejusticeonthelargerscale，therewouldbelessdifficultyindiscerningherintheindividual。ThatlargerexampleappearedtobetheState，andaccordinglyweconstructedasgoodaoneaswecould，knowingwellthatinthegoodStatejusticewouldbefound。Letthediscoverywhichwemadebenowappliedtotheindividual——iftheyagree，weshallbesatisfied；or，iftherebeadifferenceintheindividual，wewillcomebacktotheStateandhaveanothertrialofthetheory。
　　Thefrictionofthetwowhenrubbedtogethermaypossiblystrikealightinwhichjusticewillshineforth，andthevisionwhichisthenrevealedwewillfixinoursouls。
　　Thatwillbeinregularcourse；letusdoasyousay。
　　Iproceededtoask：Whentwothings，agreaterandless，arecalledbythesamename，aretheylikeorunlikeinsofarastheyarecalledthesame？
　　Like，hereplied。
　　Thejustmanthen，ifweregardtheideaofjusticeonly，willbelikethejustState？
　　Hewill。
　　AndaStatewasthoughtbyustobejustwhenthethreeclassesintheStateseverallydidtheirownbusiness；andalsothoughttobetemperateandvaliantandwisebyreasonofcertainotheraffectionsandqualitiesofthesesameclasses？
　　True，hesaid。
　　Andsooftheindividual；wemayassumethathehasthesamethreeprinciplesinhisownsoulwhicharefoundintheState；andhemayberightlydescribedinthesameterms，becauseheisaffectedinthesamemanner？
　　Certainly，hesaid。
　　Oncemorethen，Omyfriend，wehavealighteduponaneasyquestion——whetherthesoulhasthesethreeprinciplesornot？
　　Aneasyquestion！Nay，rather，Socrates，theproverbholdsthathardisthegood。
　　Verytrue，Isaid；andIdonotthinkthatthemethodwhichweareemployingisatalladequatetotheaccuratesolutionofthisquestion；thetruemethodisanotherandalongerone。Stillwemayarriveatasolutionnotbelowthelevelofthepreviousenquiry。
　　Maywenotbesatisfiedwiththat？hesaid；——underthecircumstances，Iamquitecontent。
　　Itoo，Ireplied，shallbeextremelywellsatisfied。
　　Thenfaintnotinpursuingthespeculation，hesaid。
　　Mustwenotacknowledge，Isaid，thatineachofustherearethesameprinciplesandhabitswhichthereareintheState；andthatfromtheindividualtheypassintotheState？——howelsecantheycomethere？Takethequalityofpassionorspirit；——itwouldberidiculoustoimaginethatthisquality，whenfoundinStates，isnotderivedfromtheindividualswhoaresupposedtopossessit，e。g。theThracians，Scythians，andingeneralthenorthernnations；andthesamemaybesaidoftheloveofknowledge，whichisthespecialcharacteristicofourpartoftheworld，oroftheloveofmoney，whichmay，withequaltruth，beattributedtothePhoeniciansandEgyptians。
　　Exactlyso，hesaid。
　　Thereisnodifficultyinunderstandingthis。
　　Nonewhatever。
　　Butthequestionisnotquitesoeasywhenweproceedtoaskwhethertheseprinciplesarethreeorone；whether，thatistosay，welearnwithonepartofournature，areangrywithanother，andwithathirdpartdesirethesatisfactionofournaturalappetites；orwhetherthewholesoulcomesintoplayineachsortofaction——todeterminethatisthedifficulty。
　　Yes，hesaid；thereliesthedifficulty。
　　Thenletusnowtryanddeterminewhethertheyarethesameordifferent。
　　Howcanwe？heasked。
　　Irepliedasfollows：Thesamethingclearlycannotactorbeacteduponinthesamepartorinrelationtothesamethingatthesametime，incontraryways；andthereforewheneverthiscontradictionoccursinthingsapparentlythesame，weknowthattheyarereallynotthesame，butdifferent。
　　Good。
　　Forexample，Isaid，canthesamethingbeatrestandinmotionatthesametimeinthesamepart？
　　Impossible。
　　Still，Isaid，letushaveamoreprecisestatementofterms，lestweshouldhereafterfalloutbytheway。Imaginethecaseofamanwhoisstandingandalsomovinghishandsandhishead，andsupposeapersontosaythatoneandthesamepersonisinmotionandatrestatthesamemoment—tosuchamodeofspeechweshouldobject，andshouldrathersaythatonepartofhimisinmotionwhileanotherisatrest。
　　Verytrue。
　　Andsupposetheobjectortorefinestillfurther，andtodrawthenicedistinctionthatnotonlypartsoftops，butwholetops，whentheyspinroundwiththeirpegsfixedonthespot，areatrestandinmotionatthesametime（andhemaysaythesameofanythingwhichrevolvesinthesamespot），hisobjectionwouldnotbeadmittedbyus，becauseinsuchcasesthingsarenotatrestandinmotioninthesamepartsofthemselves；weshouldrathersaythattheyhavebothanaxisandacircumference，andthattheaxisstandsstill，forthereisnodeviationfromtheperpendicular；andthatthecircumferencegoesround。Butif，whilerevolving，theaxisinclineseithertotherightorleft，forwardsorbackwards，theninnopointofviewcantheybeatrest。
　　Thatisthecorrectmodeofdescribingthem，hereplied。
　　Thennoneoftheseobjectionswillconfuseus，orinclineustobelievethatthesamethingatthesametime，inthesamepartorinrelationtothesamething，canactorbeacteduponincontraryways。
　　Certainlynot，accordingtomywayofthinking。
　　Yet，Isaid，thatwemaynotbecompelledtoexamineallsuchobjections，andproveatlengththattheyareuntrue，letusassumetheirabsurdity，andgoforwardontheunderstandingthathereafter，ifthisassumptionturnouttobeuntrue，alltheconsequenceswhichfollowshallbewithdrawn。
　　Yes，hesaid，thatwillbethebestway。
　　Well，Isaid，wouldyounotallowthatassentanddissent，desireandaversion，attractionandrepulsion，areallofthemopposites，whethertheyareregardedasactiveorpassive（forthatmakesnodifferenceinthefactoftheiropposition）？
　　Yes，hesaid，theyareopposites。
　　Well，Isaid，andhungerandthirst，andthedesiresingeneral，andagainwillingandwishing，——alltheseyouwouldrefertotheclassesalreadymentioned。Youwouldsay——wouldyounot？——thatthesoulofhimwhodesiresisseekingaftertheobjectofhisdesires；orthatheisdrawingtohimselfthethingwhichhewishestopossess：oragain，whenapersonwantsanythingtobegivenhim，hismind，longingfortherealisationofhisdesires，intimateshiswishtohaveitbyanodofassent，asifhehadbeenaskedaquestion？
　　Verytrue。
　　Andwhatwouldyousayofunwillingnessanddislikeandtheabsenceofdesire；shouldnotthesebereferredtotheoppositeclassofrepulsionandrejection？
　　Certainly。
　　Admittingthistobetrueofdesiregenerally，letussupposeaparticularclassofdesires，andoutofthesewewillselecthungerandthirst，astheyaretermed，whicharethemostobviousofthem？
　　Letustakethatclass，hesaid。
　　Theobjectofoneisfood，andoftheotherdrink？
　　Yes。
　　Andherecomesthepoint：isnotthirstthedesirewhichthesoulhasofdrink，andofdrinkonly；notofdrinkqualifiedbyanythingelse；forexample，warmorcold，ormuchorlittle，or，inaword，drinkofanyparticularsort：butifthethirstbeaccompaniedbyheat，thenthedesireisofcolddrink；or，ifaccompaniedbycold，thenofwarmdrink；or，ifthethirstbeexcessive，thenthedrinkwhichisdesiredwillbeexcessive；or，ifnotgreat，thequantityofdrinkwillalsobesmall：butthirstpureandsimplewilldesiredrinkpureandsimple，whichisthenaturalsatisfactionofthirst，asfoodisofhunger？
　　Yes，hesaid；thesimpledesireis，asyousay，ineverycaseofthesimpleobject，andthequalifieddesireofthequalifiedobject。
　　Buthereaconfusionmayarise；andIshouldwishtoguardagainstanopponentstartingupandsayingthatnomandesiresdrinkonly，butgooddrink，orfoodonly，butgoodfood；forgoodistheuniversalobjectofdesire，andthirstbeingadesire，willnecessarilybethirstaftergooddrink；andthesameistrueofeveryotherdesire。
　　Yes，hereplied，theopponentmighthavesomethingtosay。
　　NeverthelessIshouldstillmaintain，thatofrelativessomehaveaqualityattachedtoeithertermoftherelation；othersaresimpleandhavetheircorrelativessimple。
　　Idonotknowwhatyoumean。
　　Well，youknowofcoursethatthegreaterisrelativetotheless？
　　Certainly。
　　Andthemuchgreatertothemuchless？
　　Yes。
　　Andthesometimegreatertothesometimeless，andthegreaterthatistobetothelessthatistobe？
　　Certainly，hesaid。
　　Andsoofmoreandless，andofothercorrelativeterms，suchasthedoubleandthehalf，oragain，theheavierandthelighter，theswifterandtheslower；andofhotandcold，andofanyotherrelatives；——isnotthistrueofallofthem？
　　Yes。
　　Anddoesnotthesameprincipleholdinthesciences？Theobjectofscienceisknowledge（assumingthattobethetruedefinition），buttheobjectofaparticularscienceisaparticularkindofknowledge；Imean，forexample，thatthescienceofhouse—buildingisakindofknowledgewhichisdefinedanddistinguishedfromotherkindsandisthereforetermedarchitecture。
　　Certainly。
　　Becauseithasaparticularqualitywhichnootherhas？
　　Yes。
　　Andithasthisparticularqualitybecauseithasanobjectofaparticularkind；andthisistrueoftheotherartsandsciences？
　　Yes。
　　Now，then，ifIhavemademyselfclear，youwillunderstandmyoriginalmeaninginwhatIsaidaboutrelatives。Mymeaningwas，thatifonetermofarelationistakenalone，theotheristakenalone；ifonetermisqualified，theotherisalsoqualified。Idonotmeantosaythatrelativesmaynotbedisparate，orthatthescienceofhealthishealthy，orofdiseasenecessarilydiseased，orthatthesciencesofgoodandevilarethereforegoodandevil；butonlythat，whenthetermscienceisnolongerusedabsolutely，buthasaqualifiedobjectwhichinthiscaseisthenatureofhealthanddisease，itbecomesdefined，andishencecallednotmerelyscience，butthescienceofmedicine。
　　Iquiteunderstand，andIthinkasyoudo。
　　Wouldyounotsaythatthirstisoneoftheseessentiallyrelativeterms，havingclearlyarelation——
　　Yes，thirstisrelativetodrink。
　　Andacertainkindofthirstisrelativetoacertainkindofdrink；
　　butthirsttakenaloneisneitherofmuchnorlittle，norofgoodnorbad，norofanyparticularkindofdrink，butofdrinkonly？
　　Certainly。
　　Thenthesoulofthethirstyone，insofarasheisthirsty，desiresonlydrink；forthisheyearnsandtriestoobtainit？
　　Thatisplain。
　　Andifyousupposesomethingwhichpullsathirstysoulawayfromdrink，thatmustbedifferentfromthethirstyprinciplewhichdrawshimlikeabeasttodrink；for，asweweresaying，thesamethingcannotatthesametimewiththesamepartofitselfactincontrarywaysaboutthesame。
　　Impossible。
　　Nomorethanyoucansaythatthehandsofthearcherpushandpullthebowatthesametime，butwhatyousayisthatonehandpushesandtheotherpulls。
　　Exactlyso，hereplied。
　　Andmightamanbethirsty，andyetunwillingtodrink？
　　Yes，hesaid，itconstantlyhappens。
　　Andinsuchacasewhatisonetosay？Wouldyounotsaythattherewassomethinginthesoulbiddingamantodrink，andsomethingelseforbiddinghim，whichisotherandstrongerthantheprinciplewhichbidshim？
　　Ishouldsayso。
　　Andtheforbiddingprincipleisderivedfromreason，andthatwhichbidsandattractsproceedsfrompassionanddisease？
　　Clearly。
　　Thenwemayfairlyassumethattheyaretwo，andthattheydifferfromoneanother；theonewithwhichmanreasons，wemaycalltherationalprincipleofthesoul，theother，withwhichhelovesandhungersandthirstsandfeelstheflutteringsofanyotherdesire，maybetermedtheirrationalorappetitive，theallyofsundrypleasuresandsatisfactions？
　　Yes，hesaid，wemayfairlyassumethemtobedifferent。
　　Thenletusfinallydeterminethattherearetwoprinciplesexistinginthesoul。Andwhatofpassion，orspirit？Isitathird，orakintooneofthepreceding？
　　Ishouldbeinclinedtosay——akintodesire。
　　Well，Isaid，thereisastorywhichIremembertohaveheard，andinwhichIputfaith。Thestoryis，thatLeontius，thesonofAglaion，cominguponedayfromthePiraeus，underthenorthwallontheoutside，observedsomedeadbodieslyingonthegroundattheplaceofexecution。Hefeltadesiretoseethem，andalsoadreadandabhorrenceofthem；foratimehestruggledandcoveredhiseyes，butatlengththedesiregotthebetterofhim；andforcingthemopen，heranuptothedeadbodies，saying，Look，yewretches，takeyourfillofthefairsight。
　　Ihaveheardthestorymyself，hesaid。
　　Themoralofthetaleis，thatangerattimesgoestowarwithdesire，asthoughtheyweretwodistinctthings。
　　Yes；thatisthemeaning，hesaid。
　　Andaretherenotmanyothercasesinwhichweobservethatwhenaman’sdesiresviolentlyprevailoverhisreason，herevileshimself，andisangryattheviolencewithinhim，andthatinthisstruggle，whichislikethestruggleoffactionsinaState，hisspiritisonthesideofhisreason；——butforthepassionateorspiritedelementtotakepartwiththedesireswhenreasonthatsheshouldnotbeopposed，isasortofthingwhichthingwhichIbelievethatyouneverobservedoccurringinyourself，nor，asIshouldimagine，inanyoneelse？
　　Certainlynot。
　　Supposethatamanthinkshehasdoneawrongtoanother，thenoblerheisthelessableishetofeelindignantatanysuffering，suchashunger，orcold，oranyotherpainwhichtheinjuredpersonmayinflictuponhim——thesehedeemstobejust，and，asIsay，hisangerrefusestobeexcitedbythem。
　　True，hesaid。
　　Butwhenhethinksthatheisthesuffererofthewrong，thenheboilsandchafes，andisonthesideofwhathebelievestobejustice；andbecausehesuffershungerorcoldorotherpainheisonlythemoredeterminedtopersevereandconquer。Hisnoblespiritwillnotbequelleduntilheeitherslaysorisslain；oruntilhehearsthevoiceoftheshepherd，thatis，reason，biddinghisdogbarknomore。
　　Theillustrationisperfect，hereplied；andinourState，asweweresaying，theauxiliariesweretobedogs，andtohearthevoiceoftherulers，whoaretheirshepherds。
　　Iperceive，Isaid，thatyouquiteunderstandme；thereis，however，afurtherpointwhichIwishyoutoconsider。
　　Whatpoint？
　　Yourememberthatpassionorspiritappearedatfirstsighttobeakindofdesire，butnowweshouldsayquitethecontrary；forintheconflictofthesoulspiritisarrayedonthesideoftherationalprinciple。
　　Mostassuredly。
　　Butafurtherquestionarises：Ispassiondifferentfromreasonalso，oronlyakindofreason；inwhichlattercase，insteadofthreeprinciplesinthesoul，therewillonlybetwo，therationalandtheconcupiscent；orrather，astheStatewascomposedofthreeclasses，traders，auxiliaries，counsellors，somaytherenotbeintheindividualsoulathirdelementwhichispassionorspirit，andwhennotcorruptedbybadeducationisthenaturalauxiliaryofreasonYes，hesaid，theremustbeathird。
　　Yes，Ireplied，ifpassion，whichhasalreadybeenshowntobedifferentfromdesire，turnoutalsotobedifferentfromreason。
　　Butthatiseasilyproved：——Wemayobserveeveninyoungchildrenthattheyarefullofspiritalmostassoonastheyareborn，whereassomeofthemneverseemtoattaintotheuseofreason，andmostofthemlateenough。
　　Excellent，Isaid，andyoumayseepassionequallyinbruteanimals，whichisafurtherproofofthetruthofwhatyouaresaying。AndwemayoncemoreappealtothewordsofHomer，whichhavebeenalreadyquotedbyus，Hesmotehisbreast，andthusrebukedhissoul，forinthisverseHomerhasclearlysupposedthepowerwhichreasonsaboutthebetterandworsetobedifferentfromtheunreasoningangerwhichisrebukedbyit。
　　Verytrue，hesaid。