Andonefeaturetheywillerase，andanothertheywillputin，theyhavemadethewaysofmen，asfaraspossible，agreeabletothewaysofGod？
　　Indeed，hesaid，innowaycouldtheymakeafairerpicture。
　　Andnow，Isaid，arewebeginningtopersuadethosewhomyoudescribedasrushingatuswithmightandmain，thatthepainterofconstitutionsissuchanoneaswearepraising；atwhomtheyweresoveryindignantbecausetohishandswecommittedtheState；andaretheygrowingalittlecalmeratwhattheyhavejustheard？
　　Muchcalmer，ifthereisanysenseinthem。
　　Why，wherecantheystillfindanygroundforobjection？Willtheydoubtthatthephilosopherisaloveroftruthandbeing？
　　Theywouldnotbesounreasonable。
　　Orthathisnature，beingsuchaswehavedelineated，isakintothehighestgood？
　　Neithercantheydoubtthis。
　　Butagain，willtheytellusthatsuchanature，placedunderfavourablecircumstances，willnotbeperfectlygoodandwiseifanyeverwas？Orwilltheypreferthosewhomwehaverejected？
　　Surelynot。
　　Thenwilltheystillbeangryatoursaying，that，untilphilosophersbearrule，Statesandindividualswillhavenorestfromevil，norwillthisourimaginaryStateeverberealised？
　　Ithinkthattheywillbelessangry。
　　Shallweassumethattheyarenotonlylessangrybutquitegentle，andthattheyhavebeenconvertedandforveryshame，iffornootherreason，cannotrefusetocometoterms？
　　Byallmeans，hesaid。
　　Thenletussupposethatthereconciliationhasbeeneffected。
　　Willanyonedenytheotherpoint，thattheremaybesonsofkingsorprinceswhoarebynaturephilosophers？
　　Surelynoman，hesaid。
　　Andwhentheyhavecomeintobeingwillanyonesaythattheymustofnecessitybedestroyed；thattheycanhardlybesavedisnotdeniedevenbyus；butthatinthewholecourseofagesnosingleoneofthemcanescape——whowillventuretoaffirmthis？
　　Whoindeed！
　　But，saidI，oneisenough；lettherebeonemanwhohasacityobedienttohiswill，andhemightbringintoexistencetheidealpolityaboutwhichtheworldissoincredulous。
　　Yes，oneisenough。
　　Therulermayimposethelawsandinstitutionswhichwehavebeendescribing，andthecitizensmaypossiblybewillingtoobeythem？
　　Certainly。
　　Andthatothersshouldapproveofwhatweapprove，isnomiracleorimpossibility？
　　Ithinknot。
　　Butwehavesufficientlyshown，inwhathaspreceded，thatallthis，ifonlypossible，isassuredlyforthebest。
　　Wehave。
　　Andnowwesaynotonlythatourlaws，iftheycouldbeenacted，wouldbeforthebest，butalsothattheenactmentofthem，thoughdifficult，isnotimpossible。
　　Verygood。
　　Andsowithpainandtoilwehavereachedtheendofonesubject，butmoreremainstobediscussed；——howandbywhatstudiesandpursuitswillthesavioursoftheconstitutionbecreated，andatwhatagesaretheytoapplythemselvestotheirseveralstudies？
　　Certainly。
　　Iomittedthetroublesomebusinessofthepossessionofwomen，andtheprocreationofchildren，andtheappointmentoftherulers，becauseIknewthattheperfectStatewouldbeeyedwithjealousyandwasdifficultofattainment；butthatpieceofclevernesswasnotofmuchservicetome，forIhadtodiscussthemallthesame。Thewomenandchildrenarenowdisposedof，buttheotherquestionoftherulersmustbeinvestigatedfromtheverybeginning。Weweresaying，asyouwillremember，thattheyweretobeloversoftheircountry，triedbythetestofpleasuresandpains，andneitherinhardships，norindangers，noratanyothercriticalmomentweretolosetheirpatriotism——hewastoberejectedwhofailed，buthewhoalwayscameforthpure，likegoldtriedintherefiner’sfire，wastobemadearuler，andtoreceivehonoursandrewardsinlifeandafterdeath。Thiswasthesortofthingwhichwasbeingsaid，andthentheargumentturnedasideandveiledherface；notlikingtostirthequestionwhichhasnowarisen。
　　Iperfectlyremember，hesaid。
　　Yes，myfriend，Isaid，andIthenshrankfromhazardingtheboldword；butnowletmedaretosay——thattheperfectguardianmustbeaphilosopher。
　　Yes，hesaid，letthatbeaffirmed。
　　Anddonotsupposethattherewillbemanyofthem；forthegiftswhichweredeemedbyustobeessentialrarelygrowtogether；theyaremostlyfoundinshredsandpatches。
　　Whatdoyoumean？hesaid。
　　Youareaware，Ireplied，thatquickintelligence，memory，sagacity，cleverness，andsimilarqualities，donotoftengrowtogether，andthatpersonswhopossessthemandareatthesametimehigh—spiritedandmagnanimousarenotsoconstitutedbynatureastoliveorderlyandinapeacefulandsettledmanner；theyaredrivenanywaybytheirimpulses，andallsolidprinciplegoesoutofthem。
　　Verytrue，hesaid。
　　Ontheotherhand，thosesteadfastnatureswhichcanbetterbedependedupon，whichinabattleareimpregnabletofearandimmovable，areequallyimmovablewhenthereisanythingtobelearned；
　　theyarealwaysinatorpidstate，andareapttoyawnandgotosleepoveranyintellectualtoil。
　　Quitetrue。
　　Andyetweweresayingthatbothqualitieswerenecessaryinthosetowhomthehighereducationistobeimparted，andwhoaretoshareinanyofficeorcommand。
　　Certainly，hesaid。
　　Andwilltheybeaclasswhichisrarelyfound？
　　Yes，indeed。
　　Thentheaspirantmustnotonlybetestedinthoselaboursanddangersandpleasureswhichwementionedbefore，butthereisanotherkindofprobationwhichwedidnotmention——hemustbeexercisedalsoinmanykindsofknowledge，toseewhetherthesoulwillbeabletoendurethehighestofall，willfaintunderthem，asinanyotherstudiesandexercises。
　　Yes，hesaid，youarequiterightintestinghim。Butwhatdoyoumeanbythehighestofallknowledge？
　　Youmayremember，Isaid，thatwedividedthesoulintothreeparts；
　　anddistinguishedtheseveralnaturesofjustice，temperance，courage，andwisdom？
　　Indeed，hesaid，ifIhadforgotten，Ishouldnotdeservetohearmore。
　　Anddoyourememberthewordofcautionwhichprecededthediscussionofthem？
　　Towhatdoyourefer？
　　Weweresaying，ifIamnotmistaken，thathewhowantedtoseethemintheirperfectbeautymusttakealongerandmorecircuitousway，attheendofwhichtheywouldappear；butthatwecouldaddonapopularexpositionofthemonalevelwiththediscussionwhichhadpreceded。Andyourepliedthatsuchanexpositionwouldbeenoughforyou，andsotheenquirywascontinuedinwhattomeseemedtobeaveryinaccuratemanner；whetheryouweresatisfiedornot，itisforyoutosay。
　　Yes，hesaid，Ithoughtandtheothersthoughtthatyougaveusafairmeasureoftruth。
　　But，myfriend，Isaid，ameasureofsuchthingsWhichinanydegreefallsshortofthewholetruthisnotfairmeasure；fornothingimperfectisthemeasureofanything，althoughpersonsaretooapttobecontentedandthinkthattheyneedsearchnofurther。
　　Notanuncommoncasewhenpeopleareindolent。
　　Yes，Isaid；andtherecannotbeanyworsefaultinaguardianoftheStateandofthelaws。
　　True。
　　Theguardianthen，Isaid，mustberequiredtotakethelongercircuit，andtollatlearningaswellasatgymnastics，orhewillneverreachthehighestknowledgeofallwhich，aswewerejustnowsaying，ishispropercalling。
　　What，hesaid，isthereaknowledgestillhigherthanthis——higherthanjusticeandtheothervirtues？
　　Yes，Isaid，thereis。Andofthevirtuestoowemustbeholdnottheoutlinemerely，asatpresent——nothingshortofthemostfinishedpictureshouldsatisfyus。Whenlittlethingsareelaboratedwithaninfinityofpains，inorderthattheymayappearintheirfullbeautyandutmostclearness，howridiculousthatweshouldnotthinkthehighesttruthsworthyofattainingthehighestaccuracy！
　　Arightnoblethought；butdoyousupposethatweshallrefrainfromaskingyouwhatisthishighestknowledge？
　　Nay，Isaid，askifyouwill；butIamcertainthatyouhaveheardtheanswermanytimes，andnowyoueitherdonotunderstandmeor，asIratherthink，youaredisposedtobetroublesome；foryouhaveofbeentoldthattheideaofgoodisthehighestknowledge，andthatallotherthingsbecomeusefulandadvantageousonlybytheiruseofthis。
　　YoucanhardlybeignorantthatofthisIwasabouttospeak，concerningwhich，asyouhaveoftenheardmesay，weknowsolittle；
　　and，withoutwhich，anyotherknowledgeorpossessionofanykindwillprofitusnothing。Doyouthinkthatthepossessionofallotherthingsisofanyvalueifwedonotpossessthegood？ortheknowledgeofallotherthingsifwehavenoknowledgeofbeautyandgoodness？
　　Assuredlynot。
　　Youarefurtherawarethatmostpeopleaffirmpleasuretobethegood，butthefinersortofwitssayitisknowledgeYes。
　　Andyouareawaretoothatthelattercannotexplainwhattheymeanbyknowledge，butareobligedafteralltosayknowledgeofthegood？
　　Howridiculous！
　　Yes，Isaid，thattheyshouldbeginbyreproachinguswithourignoranceofthegood，andthenpresumeourknowledgeofit——forthegoodtheydefinetobeknowledgeofthegood，justasifweunderstoodthemwhentheyusetheterm’good’——thisisofcourseridiculous。
　　Mosttrue，hesaid。
　　Andthosewhomakepleasuretheirgoodareinequalperplexity；
　　fortheyarecompelledtoadmitthattherearebadpleasuresaswellasgood。
　　Certainly。
　　Andthereforetoacknowledgethatbadandgoodarethesame？
　　True。
　　Therecanbenodoubtaboutthenumerousdifficultiesinwhichthisquestionisinvolved。
　　Therecanbenone。
　　Further，dowenotseethatmanyarewillingtodoortohaveortoseemtobewhatisjustandhonourablewithoutthereality；butnooneissatisfiedwiththeappearanceofgood——therealityiswhattheyseek；inthecaseofthegood，appearanceisdespisedbyeveryone。
　　Verytrue，hesaid。
　　Ofthisthen，whicheverysoulofmanpursuesandmakestheendofallhisactions，havingapresentimentthatthereissuchanend，andyethesitatingbecauseneitherknowingthenaturenorhavingthesameassuranceofthisasofotherthings，andthereforelosingwhatevergoodthereisinotherthings，——ofaprinciplesuchandsogreatasthisoughtthebestmeninourState，towhomeverythingisentrusted，tobeinthedarknessofignorance？
　　Certainlynot，hesaid。
　　Iamsure，Isaid，thathewhodoesnotknownowthebeautifulandthejustarelikewisegoodwillbebutasorryguardianofthem；andI
　　suspectthatnoonewhoisignorantofthegoodwillhaveatrueknowledgeofthem。
　　That，hesaid，isashrewdsuspicionofyours。
　　AndifweonlyhaveaguardianwhohasthisknowledgeourStatewillbeperfectlyordered？
　　Ofcourse，hereplied；butIwishthatyouwouldtellmewhetheryouconceivethissupremeprincipleofthegoodtobeknowledgeorpleasure，ordifferentfromeither。
　　Aye，Isaid，Iknewallalongthatafastidiousgentlemanlikeyouwouldnotbecontentedwiththethoughtsofotherpeopleaboutthesematters。
　　True，Socrates；butImustsaythatonewholikeyouhaspassedalifetimeinthestudyofphilosophyshouldnotbealwaysrepeatingtheopinionsofothers，andnevertellinghisown。
　　Well，buthasanyonearighttosaypositivelywhathedoesnotknow？
　　Not，hesaid，withtheassuranceofpositivecertainty；hehasnorighttodothat：buthemaysaywhathethinks，asamatterofopinion。
　　Anddoyounotknow，Isaid，thatallmereopinionsarebad，andthebestofthemblind？Youwouldnotdenythatthosewhohaveanytruenotionwithoutintelligenceareonlylikeblindmenwhofeeltheirwayalongtheroad？
　　Verytrue。
　　Anddoyouwishtobeholdwhatisblindandcrookedandbase，whenotherswilltellyouofbrightnessandbeauty？
　　GLAUCON—SOCRATES
　　Still，Imustimploreyou，Socrates，saidGlaucon，nottoturnawayjustasyouarereachingthegoal；ifyouwillonlygivesuchanexplanationofthegoodasyouhavealreadygivenofjusticeandtemperanceandtheothervirtues，weshallbesatisfied。
　　Yes，myfriend，andIshallbeatleastequallysatisfied，butI
　　cannothelpfearingthatIshallfall，andthatmyindiscreetzealwillbringridiculeuponme。No，sweetsirs，letusnotatpresentaskwhatistheactualnatureofthegood，fortoreachwhatisnowinmythoughtswouldbeanefforttoogreatforme。Butofthechildofthegoodwhoislikesthim，Iwouldfainspeak，ifIcouldbesurethatyouwishedtohear——otherwise，not。
　　Byallmeans，hesaid，tellusaboutthechild，andyoushallremaininourdebtfortheaccountoftheparent。
　　Idoindeedwish，Ireplied，thatIcouldpay，andyoureceive，theaccountoftheparent，andnot，asnow，oftheoffspringonly；
　　take，however，thislatterbywayofinterest，andatthesametimehaveacarethatidonotrenderafalseaccount，althoughIhavenointentionofdeceivingyou。
　　Yes，wewilltakeallthecarethatwecan：proceed。
　　Yes，Isaid，butImustfirstcometoanunderstandingwithyou，andremindyouofwhatIhavementionedinthecourseofthisdiscussion，andatmanyothertimes。
　　What？
　　Theoldstory，thatthereisamanybeautifulandamanygood，andsoofotherthingswhichwedescribeanddefine；toallofthem’many’
　　isapplied。
　　True，hesaid。
　　Andthereisanabsolutebeautyandanabsolutegood，andofotherthingstowhichtheterm’many’isappliedthereisanabsolute；fortheymaybebroughtunderasingleidea，whichiscalledtheessenceofeach。
　　Verytrue。
　　Themany，aswesay，areseenbutnotknown，andtheideasareknownbutnotseen。
　　Exactly。
　　Andwhatistheorganwithwhichweseethevisiblethings？
　　Thesight，hesaid。
　　Andwiththehearing，Isaid，wehear，andwiththeothersensesperceivetheotherobjectsofsense？
　　True。
　　Buthaveyouremarkedthatsightisbyfarthemostcostlyandcomplexpieceofworkmanshipwhichtheartificerofthesensesevercontrived？
　　No，Ineverhave，hesaid。
　　Thenreflect；hastheearorvoiceneedofanythirdoradditionalnatureinorderthattheonemaybeabletohearandtheothertobeheard？
　　Nothingofthesort。
　　No，indeed，Ireplied；andthesameistrueofmost，ifnotall，theothersenses——youwouldnotsaythatanyofthemrequiressuchanaddition？
　　Certainlynot。
　　Butyouseethatwithouttheadditionofsomeothernaturethereisnoseeingorbeingseen？
　　Howdoyoumean？
　　Sightbeing，asIconceive，intheeyes，andhewhohaseyeswantingtosee；colourbeingalsopresentinthem，stillunlesstherebeathirdnaturespeciallyadaptedtothepurpose，theowneroftheeyeswillseenothingandthecolourswillbeinvisible。
　　Ofwhatnatureareyouspeaking？
　　Ofthatwhichyoutermlight，Ireplied。
　　True，hesaid。
　　Noble，then，isthebondwhichlinkstogethersightandvisibility，andgreatbeyondotherbondsbynosmalldifferenceofnature；forlightistheirbond，andlightisnoignoblething？
　　Nay，hesaid，thereverseofignoble。
　　Andwhich，Isaid，ofthegodsinheavenwouldyousaywasthelordofthiselement？Whoseisthatlightwhichmakestheeyetoseeperfectlyandthevisibletoappear？
　　Youmeanthesun，asyouandallmankindsay。
　　Maynottherelationofsighttothisdeitybedescribedasfollows？
　　How？
　　Neithersightnortheeyeinwhichsightresidesisthesun？
　　No。
　　Yetofalltheorgansofsensetheeyeisthemostlikethesun？
　　Byfarthemostlike。
　　Andthepowerwhichtheeyepossessesisasortofeffluencewhichisdispensedfromthesun？
　　Exactly。
　　Thenthesunisnotsight，buttheauthorofsightwhoisrecognisedbysight。
　　True，hesaid。
　　AndthisishewhomIcallthechildofthegood，whomthegoodbegatinhisownlikeness，tobeinthevisibleworld，inrelationtosightandthethingsofsight，whatthegoodisintheintellectualworldinrelationtomindandthethingsofmind。
　　Willyoubealittlemoreexplicit？hesaid。
　　Why，youknow，Isaid，thattheeyes，whenapersondirectsthemtowardsobjectsonwhichthelightofdayisnolongershining，butthemoonandstarsonly，seedimly，andarenearlyblind；theyseemtohavenoclearnessofvisioninthem？
　　Verytrue。
　　Butwhentheyaredirectedtowardsobjectsonwhichthesunshines，theyseeclearlyandthereissightinthem？
　　Certainly。
　　Andthesoulisliketheeye：whenrestinguponthatonwhichtruthandbeingshine，thesoulperceivesandunderstandsandisradiantwithintelligence；butwhenturnedtowardsthetwilightofbecomingandperishing，thenshehasopiniononly，andgoesblinkingabout，andisfirstofoneopinionandthenofanother，andseemstohavenointelligence？
　　Justso。
　　Now，thatwhichimpartstruthtotheknownandthepowerofknowingtotheknoweriswhatIwouldhaveyoutermtheideaofgood，andthisyouwilldeemtobethecauseofscience，andoftruthinsofarasthelatterbecomesthesubjectofknowledge；
　　beautifultoo，asarebothtruthandknowledge，youwillberightinesteemingthisothernatureasmorebeautifulthaneither；and，asinthepreviousinstance，lightandsightmaybetrulysaidtobelikethesun，andyetnottobethesun，sointhisothersphere，scienceandtruthmaybedeemedtobelikethegood，butnotthegood；thegoodhasaplaceofhonouryethigher。
　　Whatawonderofbeautythatmustbe，hesaid，whichistheauthorofscienceandtruth，andyetsurpassestheminbeauty；foryousurelycannotmeantosaythatpleasureisthegood？
　　Godforbid，Ireplied；butmayIaskyoutoconsidertheimageinanotherpointofview？
　　Inwhatpointofview？
　　Youwouldsay，wouldyounot，thatthesunisonlytheauthorofvisibilityinallvisiblethings，butofgenerationandnourishmentandgrowth，thoughhehimselfisnotgeneration？
　　Certainly。
　　Inlikemannerthegoodmaybesaidtobenotonlytheauthorofknowledgetoallthingsknown，butoftheirbeingandessence，andyetthegoodisnotessence，butfarexceedsessenceindignityandpower。
　　Glauconsaid，withaludicrousearnestness：Bythelightofheaven，howamazing！
　　Yes，Isaid，andtheexaggerationmaybesetdowntoyou；foryoumademeuttermyfancies。
　　Andpraycontinuetoutterthem；atanyrateletushearifthereisanythingmoretobesaidaboutthesimilitudeofthesun。
　　Yes，Isaid，thereisagreatdealmore。
　　Thenomitnothing，howeverslight。
　　Iwilldomybest，Isaid；butIshouldthinkthatagreatdealwillhavetobeomitted。
　　Youhavetoimagine，then，thattherearetworulingpowers，andthatoneofthemissetovertheintellectualworld，theotheroverthevisible。Idonotsayheaven，lestyoushouldfancythatIamplayinguponthename（’ourhanoz，orhatoz’）。MayIsupposethatyouhavethisdistinctionofthevisibleandintelligiblefixedinyourmind？
　　Ihave。
　　Nowtakealinewhichhasbeencutintotwounequalparts，anddivideeachofthemagaininthesameproportion，andsupposethetwomaindivisionstoanswer，onetothevisibleandtheothertotheintelligible，andthencomparethesubdivisionsinrespectoftheirclearnessandwantofclearness，andyouwillfindthatthefirstsectioninthesphereofthevisibleconsistsofimages。AndbyimagesImean，inthefirstplace，shadows，andinthesecondplace，reflectionsinwaterandinsolid，smoothandpolishedbodiesandthelike：Doyouunderstand？
　　Yes，Iunderstand。
　　Imagine，now，theothersection，ofwhichthisisonlytheresemblance，toincludetheanimalswhichwesee，andeverythingthatgrowsorismade。
　　Verygood。
　　Wouldyounotadmitthatboththesectionsofthisdivisionhavedifferentdegreesoftruth，andthatthecopyistotheoriginalasthesphereofopinionistothesphereofknowledge？
　　Mostundoubtedly。
　　Nextproceedtoconsiderthemannerinwhichthesphereoftheintellectualistobedivided。
　　Inwhatmanner？
　　Thus：——Therearetwosubdivisions，inthelowerorwhichthesoulusesthefiguresgivenbytheformerdivisionasimages；theenquirycanonlybehypothetical，andinsteadofgoingupwardstoaprincipledescendstotheotherend；inthehigherofthetwo，thesoulpassesoutofhypotheses，andgoesuptoaprinciplewhichisabovehypotheses，makingnouseofimagesasintheformercase，butproceedingonlyinandthroughtheideasthemselves。
　　Idonotquiteunderstandyourmeaning，hesaid。
　　ThenIwilltryagain；youwillunderstandmebetterwhenIhavemadesomepreliminaryremarks。Youareawarethatstudentsofgeometry，arithmetic，andthekindredsciencesassumetheoddandtheevenandthefiguresandthreekindsofanglesandthelikeintheirseveralbranchesofscience；thesearetheirhypotheses，whichtheyandeverybodyaresupposedtoknow，andthereforetheydonotdeigntogiveanyaccountofthemeithertothemselvesorothers；
　　buttheybeginwiththem，andgoonuntiltheyarriveatlast，andinaconsistentmanner，attheirconclusion？
　　Yes，hesaid，Iknow。