Thenyouwouldinferthatopinionisintermediate？
　　Noquestion。
　　Butwerewenotsayingbefore，thatifanythingappearedtobeofasortwhichisandisnotatthesametime，thatsortofthingwouldappearalsotolieintheintervalbetweenpurebeingandabsolutenot—being；andthatthecorrespondingfacultyisneitherknowledgenorignorance，butwillbefoundintheintervalbetweenthem？
　　True。
　　Andinthatintervaltherehasnowbeendiscoveredsomethingwhichwecallopinion？
　　Therehas。
　　Thenwhatremainstobediscoveredistheobjectwhichpartakesequallyofthenatureofbeingandnot—being，andcannotrightlybetermedeither，pureandsimple；thisunknownterm，whendiscovered，wemaytrulycallthesubjectofopinion，andassigneachtoitsproperfaculty，—theextremestothefacultiesoftheextremesandthemeantothefacultyofthemean。
　　True。
　　Thisbeingpremised，Iwouldaskthegentlemanwhoisofopinionthatthereisnoabsoluteorunchangeableideaofbeauty——inwhoseopinionthebeautifulisthemanifold——he，Isay，yourloverofbeautifulsights，whocannotbeartobetoldthatthebeautifulisone，andthejustisone，orthatanythingisone——tohimIwouldappeal，saying，Willyoubesoverykind，sir，astotelluswhether，ofallthesebeautifulthings，thereisonewhichwillnotbefoundugly；orofthejust，whichwillnotbefoundunjust；oroftheholy，whichwillnotalsobeunholy？
　　No，hereplied；thebeautifulwillinsomepointofviewbefoundugly；andthesameistrueoftherest。
　　Andmaynotthemanywhicharedoublesbealsohalves？——doubles，thatis，ofonething，andhalvesofanother？
　　Quitetrue。
　　Andthingsgreatandsmall，heavyandlight，astheyaretermed，willnotbedenotedbytheseanymorethanbytheoppositenames？
　　True；boththeseandtheoppositenameswillalwaysattachtoallofthem。
　　Andcananyoneofthosemanythingswhicharecalledbyparticularnamesbesaidtobethisratherthannottobethis？
　　Hereplied：Theyarelikethepunningriddleswhichareaskedatfeastsorthechildren’spuzzleabouttheeunuchaimingatthebat，withwhathehithim，astheysayinthepuzzle，anduponwhatthebatwassitting。TheindividualobjectsofwhichIamspeakingarealsoariddle，andhaveadoublesense：norcanyoufixtheminyourmind，eitherasbeingornot—being，orboth，orneither。
　　Thenwhatwillyoudowiththem？Isaid。Cantheyhaveabetterplacethanbetweenbeingandnot—being？Fortheyareclearlynotingreaterdarknessornegationthannot—being，ormorefulloflightandexistencethanbeing。
　　Thatisquitetrue，hesaid。
　　Thusthenweseemtohavediscoveredthatthemanyideaswhichthemultitudeentertainaboutthebeautifulandaboutallotherthingsaretossingaboutinsomeregionwhichishalfwaybetweenpurebeingandpurenot—being？
　　Wehave。
　　Yes；andwehadbeforeagreedthatanythingofthiskindwhichwemightfindwastobedescribedasmatterofopinion，andnotasmatterofknowledge；beingtheintermediatefluxwhichiscaughtanddetainedbytheintermediatefaculty。
　　Quitetrue。
　　Thenthosewhoseethemanybeautiful，andwhoyetneitherseeabsolutebeauty，norcanfollowanyguidewhopointsthewaythither；whoseethemanyjust，andnotabsolutejustice，andthelike，——suchpersonsmaybesaidtohaveopinionbutnotknowledge？
　　Thatiscertain。
　　Butthosewhoseetheabsoluteandeternalandimmutablemaybesaidtoknow，andnottohaveopiniononly？
　　Neithercanthatbedenied。
　　Theonelovesandembracesthesubjectsofknowledge，theotherthoseofopinion？Thelatterarethesame，asIdaresaywillremember，wholistenedtosweetsoundsandgazeduponfaircolours，butwouldnottoleratetheexistenceofabsolutebeauty。
　　Yes，Iremember。
　　Shallwethenbeguiltyofanyimproprietyincallingthemloversofopinionratherthanloversofwisdom，andwilltheybeveryangrywithusforthusdescribingthem？
　　Ishalltellthemnottobeangry；nomanshouldbeangryatwhatistrue。
　　Butthosewholovethetruthineachthingaretobecalledloversofwisdomandnotloversofopinion。
　　Assuredly。
　　BOOKVI
　　SOCRATES—GLAUCON
　　ANDthus，Glaucon，aftertheargumenthasgoneawearyway，thetrueandthefalsephilosophershaveatlengthappearedinview。
　　Idonotthink，hesaid，thatthewaycouldhavebeenshortened。
　　Isupposenot，Isaid；andyetIbelievethatwemighthavehadabetterviewofbothofthemifthediscussioncouldhavebeenconfinedtothisonesubjectandiftherewerenotmanyotherquestionsawaitingus，whichhewhodesirestoseeinwhatrespectthelifeofthejustdiffersfromthatoftheunjustmustconsider。
　　Andwhatisthenextquestion？heasked。
　　Surely，Isaid，theonewhichfollowsnextinorder。Inasmuchasphilosophersonlyareabletograsptheeternalandunchangeable，andthosewhowanderintheregionofthemanyandvariablearenotphilosophers，ImustaskyouwhichofthetwoclassesshouldbetherulersofourState？
　　Andhowcanwerightlyanswerthatquestion？
　　WhicheverofthetwoarebestabletoguardthelawsandinstitutionsofourState——letthembeourguardians。
　　Verygood。
　　Neither，Isaid，cantherebeanyquestionthattheguardianwhoistokeepanythingshouldhaveeyesratherthannoeyes？
　　Therecanbenoquestionofthat。
　　Andarenotthosewhoareverilyandindeedwantingintheknowledgeofthetruebeingofeachthing，andwhohaveintheirsoulsnoclearpattern，andareunableaswithapainter’seyetolookattheabsolutetruthandtothatoriginaltorepair，andhavingperfectvisionoftheotherworldtoorderthelawsaboutbeauty，goodness，justiceinthis，ifnotalreadyordered，andtoguardandpreservetheorderofthem——arenotsuchpersons，Iask，simplyblind？
　　Truly，hereplied，theyaremuchinthatcondition。
　　Andshalltheybeourguardianswhenthereareotherswho，besidesbeingtheirequalsinexperienceandfallingshortoftheminnoparticularofvirtue，alsoknowtheverytruthofeachthing？
　　Therecanbenoreason，hesaid，forrejectingthosewhohavethisgreatestofallgreatqualities；theymustalwayshavethefirstplaceunlesstheyfailinsomeotherrespect。
　　Supposethen，Isaid，thatwedeterminehowfartheycanunitethisandtheotherexcellences。
　　Byallmeans。
　　Inthefirstplace，aswebeganbyobserving，thenatureofthephilosopherhastobeascertained。Wemustcometoanunderstandingabouthim，and，whenwehavedoneso，then，ifIamnotmistaken，weshallalsoacknowledgethatsuchanunionofqualitiesispossible，andthatthoseinwhomtheyareunited，andthoseonly，shouldberulersintheState。
　　Whatdoyoumean？
　　Letussupposethatphilosophicalmindsalwaysloveknowledgeofasortwhichshowsthemtheeternalnaturenotvaryingfromgenerationandcorruption。
　　Agreed。
　　Andfurther，Isaid，letusagreethattheyareloversofalltruebeing；thereisnopartwhethergreaterorless，ormoreorlesshonourable，whichtheyarewillingtorenounce；aswesaidbeforeoftheloverandthemanofambition。
　　True。
　　Andiftheyaretobewhatweweredescribing，istherenotanotherqualitywhichtheyshouldalsopossess？
　　Whatquality？
　　Truthfulness：theywillneverintentionallyreceiveintotheirmindfalsehood，whichistheirdetestation，andtheywilllovethetruth。
　　Yes，thatmaybesafelyaffirmedofthem。
　　’Maybe，’myfriend，Ireplied，isnottheword；sayrather’mustbeaffirmed：’forhewhosenatureisamorousofanythingcannothelplovingallthatbelongsorisakintotheobjectofhisaffections。
　　Right，hesaid。
　　Andisthereanythingmoreakintowisdomthantruth？
　　Howcantherebe？
　　Canthesamenaturebealoverofwisdomandaloveroffalsehood？
　　Never。
　　Thetrueloveroflearningthenmustfromhisearliestyouth，asfarasinhimlies，desirealltruth？
　　Assuredly。
　　Butthenagain，asweknowbyexperience，hewhosedesiresarestronginonedirectionwillhavethemweakerinothers；theywillbelikeastreamwhichhasbeendrawnoffintoanotherchannel。
　　True。
　　Hewhosedesiresaredrawntowardsknowledgeineveryformwillbeabsorbedinthepleasuresofthesoul，andwillhardlyfeelbodilypleasure——Imean，ifhebeatruephilosopherandnotashamone。
　　Thatismostcertain。
　　Suchanoneissuretobetemperateandthereverseofcovetous；forthemotiveswhichmakeanothermandesirousofhavingandspending，havenoplaceinhischaracter。
　　Verytrue。
　　Anothercriterionofthephilosophicalnaturehasalsotobeconsidered。
　　Whatisthat？
　　Thereshouldbenosecretcornerofilliberality；nothingcanmoreantagonisticthanmeannesstoasoulwhichiseverlongingafterthewholeofthingsbothdivineandhuman。
　　Mosttrue，hereplied。
　　Thenhowcanhewhohasmagnificenceofmindandisthespectatorofalltimeandallexistence，thinkmuchofhumanlife？
　　Hecannot。
　　Orcansuchanoneaccountdeathfearful？
　　Noindeed。
　　Thenthecowardlyandmeannaturehasnopartintruephilosophy？
　　Certainlynot。
　　Oragain：canhewhoisharmoniouslyconstituted，whoisnotcovetousormean，oraboaster，oracoward—canhe，Isay，everbeunjustorhardinhisdealings？
　　Impossible。
　　Thenyouwillsoonobservewhetheramanisjustandgentle，orrudeandunsociable；thesearethesignswhichdistinguisheveninyouththephilosophicalnaturefromtheunphilosophical。
　　True。
　　Thereisanotherpointwhichshouldberemarked。
　　Whatpoint？
　　Whetherhehasorhasnotapleasureinlearning；fornoonewilllovethatwhichgiveshimpain，andinwhichaftermuchtoilhemakeslittleprogress。
　　Certainlynot。
　　Andagain，ifheisforgetfulandretainsnothingofwhathelearns，willhenotbeanemptyvessel？
　　Thatiscertain。
　　Labouringinvain，hemustendinhatinghimselfandhisfruitlessoccupation？Yes。
　　Thenasoulwhichforgetscannotberankedamonggenuinephilosophicnatures；wemustinsistthatthephilosophershouldhaveagoodmemory？
　　Certainly。
　　Andoncemore，theinharmoniousandunseemlynaturecanonlytendtodisproportion？
　　Undoubtedly。
　　Anddoyouconsidertruthtobeakintoproportionortodisproportion？
　　Toproportion。
　　Then，besidesotherqualities，wemusttrytofindanaturallywell—proportionedandgraciousmind，whichwillmovespontaneouslytowardsthetruebeingofeverything。
　　Certainly。
　　Well，anddonotallthesequalities，whichwehavebeenenumerating，gotogether，andaretheynot，inamanner，necessarytoasoul，whichistohaveafullandperfectparticipationofbeing？
　　Theyareabsolutelynecessary，hereplied。
　　Andmustnotthatbeablamelessstudywhichheonlycanpursuewhohasthegiftofagoodmemory，andisquicktolearn，——noble，gracious，thefriendoftruth，justice，courage，temperance，whoarehiskindred？
　　Thegodofjealousyhimself，hesaid，couldfindnofaultwithsuchastudy。
　　Andtomenlikehim，Isaid，whenperfectedbyyearsandeducation，andtotheseonlyyouwillentrusttheState。
　　SOCRATES—ADEIMANTUS
　　HereAdeimantusinterposedandsaid：Tothesestatements，Socrates，noonecanofferareply；butwhenyoutalkinthisway，astrangefeelingpassesoverthemindsofyourhearers：Theyfancythattheyareledastrayalittleateachstepintheargument，owingtotheirownwantofskillinaskingandansweringquestions；theselittlesaccumulate，andattheendofthediscussiontheyarefoundtohavesustainedamightyoverthrowandalltheirformernotionsappeartobeturnedupsidedown。Andasunskilfulplayersofdraughtsareatlastshutupbytheirmoreskilfuladversariesandhavenopiecetomove，sotheytoofindthemselvesshutupatlast；
　　fortheyhavenothingtosayinthisnewgameofwhichwordsarethecounters；andyetallthetimetheyareintheright。Theobservationissuggestedtomebywhatisnowoccurring。Foranyoneofusmightsay，thatalthoughinwordsheisnotabletomeetyouateachstepoftheargument，heseesasafactthatthevotariesofphilosophy，whentheycarryonthestudy，notonlyinyouthasapartofeducation，butasthepursuitoftheirmatureryears，mostofthembecomestrangemonsters，nottosayutterrogues，andthatthosewhomaybeconsideredthebestofthemaremadeuselesstotheworldbytheverystudywhichyouextol。
　　Well，anddoyouthinkthatthosewhosaysoarewrong？
　　Icannottell，hereplied；butIshouldliketoknowwhatisyouropinion。
　　Hearmyanswer；Iamofopinionthattheyarequiteright。
　　Thenhowcanyoubejustifiedinsayingthatcitieswillnotceasefromeviluntilphilosophersruleinthem，whenphilosophersareacknowledgedbyustobeofnousetothem？
　　Youaskaquestion，Isaid，towhichareplycanonlybegiveninaparable。
　　Yes，Socrates；andthatisawayofspeakingtowhichyouarenotatallaccustomed，Isuppose。
　　Iperceive，Isaid，thatyouarevastlyamusedathavingplungedmeintosuchahopelessdiscussion；butnowheartheparable，andthenyouwillbestillmoreamusedatthemeagrenessofmyimagination：forthemannerinwhichthebestmenaretreatedintheirownStatesissogrievousthatnosinglethingonearthiscomparabletoit；andtherefore，ifIamtopleadtheircause，Imusthaverecoursetofiction，andputtogetherafiguremadeupofmanythings，likethefabulousunionsofgoatsandstagswhicharefoundinpictures。
　　Imaginethenafleetorashipinwhichthereisacaptainwhoistallerandstrongerthananyofthecrew，butheisalittledeafandhasasimilarinfirmityinsight，andhisknowledgeofnavigationisnotmuchbetter。Thesailorsarequarrellingwithoneanotheraboutthesteering——everyoneisofopinionthathehasarighttosteer，thoughhehasneverlearnedtheartofnavigationandcannottellwhotaughthimorwhenhelearned，andwillfurtherassertthatitcannotbetaught，andtheyarereadytocutinpiecesanyonewhosaysthecontrary。Theythrongaboutthecaptain，beggingandprayinghimtocommitthehelmtothem；andifatanytimetheydonotprevail，butothersarepreferredtothem，theykilltheothersorthrowthemoverboard，andhavingfirstchainedupthenoblecaptain’ssenseswithdrinkorsomenarcoticdrug，theymutinyandtakepossessionoftheshipandmakefreewiththestores；thus，eatinganddrinking，theyproceedontheirvoyageinsuchamannerasmightbeexpectedofthem。Himwhoistheirpartisanandcleverlyaidsthemintheirplotforgettingtheshipoutofthecaptain’shandsintotheirownwhetherbyforceorpersuasion，theycomplimentwiththenameofsailor，pilot，ableseaman，andabusetheothersortofman，whomtheycallagood—for—nothing；butthatthetruepilotmustpayattentiontotheyearandseasonsandskyandstarsandwinds，andwhateverelsebelongstohisart，ifheintendstobereallyqualifiedforthecommandofaship，andthathemustandwillbethesteerer，whetherotherpeoplelikeornot—thepossibilityofthisunionofauthoritywiththesteerer’sarthasneverseriouslyenteredintotheirthoughtsorbeenmadepartoftheircalling。Nowinvesselswhichareinastateofmutinyandbysailorswhoaremutineers，howwillthetruepilotberegarded？Willhenotbecalledbythemaprater，astar—gazer，agood—for—nothing？
　　Ofcourse，saidAdeimantus。
　　Thenyouwillhardlyneed，Isaid，toheartheinterpretationofthefigure，whichdescribesthetruephilosopherinhisrelationtotheState；foryouunderstandalready。
　　Certainly。
　　Thensupposeyounowtakethisparabletothegentlemanwhoissurprisedatfindingthatphilosophershavenohonourintheircities；
　　explainittohimandtrytoconvincehimthattheirhavinghonourwouldbefarmoreextraordinary。
　　Iwill。
　　Saytohim，that，indeemingthebestvotariesofphilosophytobeuselesstotherestoftheworld，heisright；butalsotellhimtoattributetheiruselessnesstothefaultofthosewhowillnotusethem，andnottothemselves。Thepilotshouldnothumblybegthesailorstobecommandedbyhim——thatisnottheorderofnature；
　　neitherare’thewisetogotothedoorsoftherich’——theingeniousauthorofthissayingtoldalie——butthetruthis，that，whenamanisill，whetherheberichorpoor，tothephysicianhemustgo，andhewhowantstobegoverned，tohimwhoisabletogovern。Therulerwhoisgoodforanythingoughtnottobeghissubjectstoberuledbyhim；althoughthepresentgovernorsofmankindareofadifferentstamp；theymaybejustlycomparedtothemutinoussailors，andthetruehelmsmentothosewhoarecalledbythemgood—for—nothingsandstar—gazers。
　　Preciselyso，hesaid。
　　Forthesereasons，andamongmenlikethese，philosophy，thenoblestpursuitofall，isnotlikelytobemuchesteemedbythoseoftheoppositefaction；notthatthegreatestandmostlastinginjuryisdonetoherbyheropponents，butbyherownprofessingfollowers，thesameofwhomyousupposetheaccusertosay，thatthegreaternumberofthemarearrantrogues，andthebestareuseless；inwhichopinionIagreed。
　　Yes。
　　Andthereasonwhythegoodareuselesshasnowbeenexplained？
　　True。
　　Thenshallweproceedtoshowthatthecorruptionofthemajorityisalsounavoidable，andthatthisisnottobelaidtothechargeofphilosophyanymorethantheother？
　　Byallmeans。
　　Andletusaskandanswerinturn，firstgoingbacktothedescriptionofthegentleandnoblenature。Truth，asyouwillremember，washisleader，whomhefollowedalwaysandinallthings；
　　failinginthis，hewasanimpostor，andhadnopartorlotintruephilosophy。
　　Yes，thatwassaid。
　　Well，andisnotthisonequality，tomentionnoothers，greatlyatvariancewithpresentnotionsofhim？
　　Certainly，hesaid。
　　Andhavewenotarighttosayinhisdefence，thatthetrueloverofknowledgeisalwaysstrivingafterbeing——thatishisnature；hewillnotrestinthemultiplicityofindividualswhichisanappearanceonly，butwillgoon——thekeenedgewillnotbeblunted，northeforceofhisdesireabateuntilhehaveattainedtheknowledgeofthetruenatureofeveryessencebyasympatheticandkindredpowerinthesoul，andbythatpowerdrawingnearandminglingandbecomingincorporatewithverybeing，havingbegottenmindandtruth，hewillhaveknowledgeandwillliveandgrowtruly，andthen，andnottillthen，willheceasefromhistravail。
　　Nothing，hesaid，canbemorejustthansuchadescriptionofhim。
　　Andwilltheloveofaliebeanypartofaphilosopher’snature？
　　Willhenotutterlyhatealie？
　　Hewill。
　　Andwhentruthisthecaptain，wecannotsuspectanyevilofthebandwhichheleads？
　　Impossible。
　　Justiceandhealthofmindwillbeofthecompany，andtemperancewillfollowafter？
　　True，hereplied。
　　NeitheristhereanyreasonwhyIshouldagainsetinarraythephilosopher’svirtues，asyouwilldoubtlessrememberthatcourage，magnificence，apprehension，memory，werehisnaturalgifts。Andyouobjectedthat，althoughnoonecoulddenywhatIthensaid，still，ifyouleavewordsandlookatfacts，thepersonswhoarethusdescribedaresomeofthemmanifestlyuseless，andthegreaternumberutterlydepraved；wewerethenledtoenquireintothegroundsoftheseaccusations，andhavenowarrivedatthepointofaskingwhyarethemajoritybad，whichquestionofnecessitybroughtusbacktotheexaminationanddefinitionofthetruephilosopher。
　　Exactly。
　　Andwehavenexttoconsidertheofthephilosophicnature，whysomanyarespoiledandsofewescapespoiling——Iamspeakingofthosewhoweresaidtobeuselessbutnotwicked——and，whenwehavedonewiththem，wewillspeakoftheimitatorsofphilosophy，whatmannerofmenaretheywhoaspireafteraprofessionwhichisabovethemandofwhichtheyareunworthy，andthen，bytheirmanifoldinconsistencies，bringuponphilosophy，anduponallphilosophers，thatuniversalreprobationofwhichwespeak。
　　Whatarethesecorruptions？hesaid。
　　IwillseeifIcanexplainthemtoyou。Everyonewilladmitthatanaturehavinginperfectionallthequalitieswhichwerequiredinaphilosopher，isarareplantwhichisseldomseenamongmen。
　　Rareindeed。
　　Andwhatnumberlessandpowerfulcausestendtodestroytheserarenatures！
　　Whatcauses？
　　Inthefirstplacetherearetheirownvirtues，theircourage，temperance，andtherestofthem，everyoneofwhichpraiseworthyqualities（andthisisamostsingularcircumstance）destroysanddistractsfromphilosophythesoulwhichisthepossessorofthem。
　　Thatisverysingular，hereplied。
　　Thentherearealltheordinarygoodsoflife——beauty，wealth，strength，rank，andgreatconnectionsintheState——youunderstandthesortofthings——thesealsohaveacorruptinganddistractingeffect。
　　Iunderstand；butIshouldliketoknowmorepreciselywhatyoumeanaboutthem。
　　Graspthetruthasawhole，Isaid，andintherightway；youwillthenhavenodifficultyinapprehendingtheprecedingremarks，andtheywillnolongerappearstrangetoyou。