Itwillbeclearenoughthenthatinhisordinarydealingswhichgivehimareputationforhonestyhecoerceshisbadpassionsbyanenforcedvirtue；notmakingthemseethattheyarewrong，ortamingthembyreason，butbynecessityandfearconstrainingthem，andbecausehetremblesforhispossessions。
　　Tobesure。
　　Yes，indeed，mydearfriend，butyouwillfindthatthenaturaldesiresofthedronecommonlyexistinhimallthesamewheneverhehastospendwhatisnothisown。
　　Yes，andtheywillbestronginhimtoo。
　　Theman，then，willbeatwarwithhimself；hewillbetwomen，andnotone；but，ingeneral，hisbetterdesireswillbefoundtoprevailoverhisinferiorones。
　　True。
　　Forthesereasonssuchanonewillbemorerespectablethanmostpeople；yetthetruevirtueofaunanimousandharmonioussoulwillfleefarawayandnevercomenearhim。
　　Ishouldexpectso。
　　Andsurely，themiserindividuallywillbeanignoblecompetitorinaStateforanyprizeofvictory，orotherobjectofhonourableambition；hewillnotspendhismoneyinthecontestforglory；soafraidisheofawakeninghisexpensiveappetitesandinvitingthemtohelpandjoininthestruggle；intrueoligarchicalfashionhefightswithasmallpartonlyofhisresources，andtheresultcommonlyisthathelosestheprizeandsaveshismoney。
　　Verytrue。
　　Canweanylongerdoubt，then，thatthemiserandmoney—makeranswerstotheoligarchicalState？
　　Therecanbenodoubt。
　　Nextcomesdemocracy；ofthistheoriginandnaturehavestilltobeconsideredbyus；andthenwewillenquireintothewaysofthedemocraticman，andbringhimupforjudgement。
　　That，hesaid，isourmethod。
　　Well，Isaid，andhowdoesthechangefromoligarchyintodemocracyarise？Isitnotonthiswise？——ThegoodatwhichsuchaStatealmsistobecomeasrichaspossible，adesirewhichisinsatiable？
　　Whatthen？
　　Therulers，beingawarethattheirpowerrestsupontheirwealth，refusetocurtailbylawtheextravaganceofthespendthriftyouthbecausetheygainbytheirruin；theytakeinterestfromthemandbuyuptheirestatesandthusincreasetheirownwealthandimportance？
　　Tobesure。
　　TherecanbenodoubtthattheloveofwealthandthespiritofmoderationcannotexisttogetherincitizensofthesameStatetoanyconsiderableextent；oneortheotherwillbedisregarded。
　　Thatistolerablyclear。
　　AndinoligarchicalStates，fromthegeneralspreadofcarelessnessandextravagance，menofgoodfamilyhaveoftenbeenreducedtobeggary？
　　Yes，often。
　　Andstilltheyremaininthecity；theretheyare，readytostingandfullyarmed，andsomeofthemowemoney，somehaveforfeitedtheircitizenship；athirdclassareinbothpredicaments；andtheyhateandconspireagainstthosewhohavegottheirproperty，andagainsteverybodyelse，andareeagerforrevolution。
　　Thatistrue。
　　Ontheotherhand，themenofbusiness，stoopingastheywalk，andpretendingnoteventoseethosewhomtheyhavealreadyruined，inserttheirsting——thatis，theirmoney——intosomeoneelsewhoisnotonhisguardagainstthem，andrecovertheparentsummanytimesovermultipliedintoafamilyofchildren：andsotheymakedroneandpaupertoaboundintheState。
　　Yes，hesaid，thereareplentyofthem——thatiscertain。
　　Theevilblazesuplikeafire；andtheywillnotextinguishit，eitherbyrestrictingaman’suseofhisownproperty，orbyanotherremedy：
　　Whatother？
　　Onewhichisthenextbest，andhastheadvantageofcompellingthecitizenstolooktotheircharacters：——Lettherebeageneralrulethateveryoneshallenterintovoluntarycontractsathisownrisk，andtherewillbelessofthisscandalousmoney—making，andtheevilsofwhichwewerespeakingwillbegreatlylessenedintheState。
　　Yes，theywillbegreatlylessened。
　　Atpresentthegovernors，inducedbythemotiveswhichIhavenamed，treattheirsubjectsbadly；whiletheyandtheiradherents，especiallytheyoungmenofthegoverningclass，arehabituatedtoleadalifeofluxuryandidlenessbothofbodyandmind；theydonothing，andareincapableofresistingeitherpleasureorpain。
　　Verytrue。
　　Theythemselvescareonlyformakingmoney，andareasindifferentasthepaupertothecultivationofvirtue。
　　Yes，quiteasindifferent。
　　Suchisthestateofaffairswhichprevailsamongthem。Andoftenrulersandtheirsubjectsmaycomeinoneanother’sway，whetheronapilgrimageoramarch，asfellow—soldiersorfellow—sailors；aye，andtheymayobservethebehaviourofeachotherintheverymomentofdanger——forwheredangeris，thereisnofearthatthepoorwillbedespisedbytherich——andverylikelythewirysunburntpoormanmaybeplacedinbattleatthesideofawealthyonewhohasneverspoilthiscomplexionandhasplentyofsuperfluousflesh——whenheseessuchanonepuffingandathiswit’send，howcanheavoiddrawingtheconclusionthatmenlikehimareonlyrichbecausenoonehasthecouragetodespoilthem？Andwhentheymeetinprivatewillnotpeoplebesayingtooneanother’Ourwarriorsarenotgoodformuch’？
　　Yes，hesaid，Iamquiteawarethatthisistheirwayoftalking。
　　And，asinabodywhichisdiseasedtheadditionofatouchfromwithoutmaybringonillness，andsometimesevenwhenthereisnoexternalprovocationacommotionmayarisewithin—inthesamewaywhereverthereisweaknessintheStatethereisalsolikelytobeillness，ofwhichtheoccasionsmaybeveryslight，theonepartyintroducingfromwithouttheiroligarchical，theothertheirdemocraticalallies，andthentheStatefallssick，andisatwarwithherself；andmaybeattimesdistracted，evenwhenthereisnoexternalcause。
　　Yes，surely。
　　Andthendemocracycomesintobeingafterthepoorhaveconqueredtheiropponents，slaughteringsomeandbanishingsome，whiletotheremaindertheygiveanequalshareoffreedomandpower；andthisistheformofgovernmentinwhichthemagistratesarecommonlyelectedbylot。
　　Yes，hesaid，thatisthenatureofdemocracy，whethertherevolutionhasbeeneffectedbyarms，orwhetherfearhascausedtheoppositepartytowithdraw。
　　Andnowwhatistheirmanneroflife，andwhatsortofagovernmenthavethey？forasthegovernmentis，suchwillbetheman。
　　Clearly，hesaid。
　　Inthefirstplace，aretheynotfree；andisnotthecityfulloffreedomandfrankness——amanmaysayanddowhathelikes？
　　’Tissaidso，hereplied。
　　Andwherefreedomis，theindividualisclearlyabletoorderforhimselfhisownlifeashepleases？
　　Clearly。
　　TheninthiskindofStatetherewillbethegreatestvarietyofhumannatures？
　　Therewill。
　　This，then，seemslikelytobethefairestofStates，beinganembroideredrobewhichisspangledwitheverysortofflower。Andjustaswomenandchildrenthinkavarietyofcolourstobeofallthingsmostcharming，sotherearemanymentowhomthisState，whichisspangledwiththemannersandcharactersofmankind，willappeartobethefairestofStates。
　　Yes。
　　Yes，mygoodSir，andtherewillbenobetterinwhichtolookforagovernment。
　　Why？
　　Becauseofthelibertywhichreignsthere——theyhaveacompleteassortmentofconstitutions；andhewhohasamindtoestablishaState，aswehavebeendoing，mustgotoademocracyashewouldtoabazaaratwhichtheysellthem，andpickouttheonethatsuitshim；
　　then，whenhehasmadehischoice，hemayfoundhisState。
　　Hewillbesuretohavepatternsenough。
　　Andtherebeingnonecessity，Isaid，foryoutogoverninthisState，evenifyouhavethecapacity，ortobegoverned，unlessyoulike，orgotowarwhentherestgotowar，ortobeatpeacewhenothersareatpeace，unlessyouaresodisposed——therebeingnonecessityalso，becausesomelawforbidsyoutoholdofficeorbeadicast，thatyoushouldnotholdofficeorbeadicast，ifyouhaveafancy——isnotthisawayoflifewhichforthemomentissupremelydelightfulForthemoment，yes。
　　Andisnottheirhumanitytothecondemnedinsomecasesquitecharming？Haveyounotobservedhow，inademocracy，manypersons，althoughtheyhavebeensentencedtodeathorexile，juststaywheretheyareandwalkabouttheworld——thegentlemanparadeslikeahero，andnobodyseesorcares？
　　Yes，hereplied，manyandmanyaone。
　　Seetoo，Isaid，theforgivingspiritofdemocracy，andthe’don’tcare’abouttrifles，andthedisregardwhichsheshowsofallthefineprincipleswhichwesolemnlylaiddownatthefoundationofthecity——aswhenwesaidthat，exceptinthecaseofsomerarelygiftednature，thereneverwillbeagoodmanwhohasnotfromhischildhoodbeenusedtoplayamidthingsofbeautyandmakeofthemajoyandastudy——howgrandlydoesshetrampleallthesefinenotionsofoursunderherfeet，nevergivingathoughttothepursuitswhichmakeastatesman，andpromotingtohonouranyonewhoprofessestobethepeople’sfriend。
　　Yes，sheisofanoblespirit。
　　Theseandotherkindredcharacteristicsarepropertodemocracy，whichisacharmingformofgovernment，fullofvarietyanddisorder，anddispensingasortofequalitytoequalsandunequalsalike。
　　Weknowherwell。
　　Considernow，Isaid，whatmannerofmantheindividualis，orratherconsider，asinthecaseoftheState，howhecomesintobeing。
　　Verygood，hesaid。
　　Isnotthistheway——heisthesonofthemiserlyandoligarchicalfatherwhohastrainedhiminhisownhabits？
　　Exactly。
　　And，likehisfather，hekeepsunderbyforcethepleasureswhichareofthespendingandnotofthegettingsort，beingthosewhicharecalledunnecessary？
　　Obviously。
　　Wouldyoulike，forthesakeofclearness，todistinguishwhicharethenecessaryandwhicharetheunnecessarypleasures？
　　Ishould。
　　Arenotnecessarypleasuresthoseofwhichwecannotgetrid，andofwhichthesatisfactionisabenefittous？Andtheyarerightlyso，becauseweareframedbynaturetodesirebothwhatisbeneficialandwhatisnecessary，andcannothelpit。
　　True。
　　Wearenotwrongthereforeincallingthemnecessary？
　　Wearenot。
　　Andthedesiresofwhichamanmaygetrid，ifhetakespainsfromhisyouthupwards——ofwhichthepresence，moreover，doesnogood，andinsomecasesthereverseofgood——shallwenotberightinsayingthatalltheseareunnecessary？
　　Yes，certainly。
　　Supposeweselectanexampleofeitherkind，inorderthatwemayhaveageneralnotionofthem？
　　Verygood。
　　Willnotthedesireofeating，thatis，ofsimplefoodandcondiments，insofarastheyarerequiredforhealthandstrength，beofthenecessaryclass？
　　ThatiswhatIshouldsuppose。
　　Thepleasureofeatingisnecessaryintwoways；itdoesusgoodanditisessentialtothecontinuanceoflife？
　　Yes。
　　Butthecondimentsareonlynecessaryinsofarastheyaregoodforhealth？
　　Certainly。
　　Andthedesirewhichgoesbeyondthis，ormoredelicatefood，orotherluxuries，whichmightgenerallybegotridof，ifcontrolledandtrainedinyouth，andishurtfultothebody，andhurtfultothesoulinthepursuitofwisdomandvirtue，mayberightlycalledunnecessary？
　　Verytrue。
　　Maywenotsaythatthesedesiresspend，andthattheothersmakemoneybecausetheyconducetoproduction？
　　Certainly。
　　Andofthepleasuresoflove，andallotherpleasures，thesameholdsgood？
　　True。
　　Andthedroneofwhomwespokewashewhowassurfeitedinpleasuresanddesiresofthissort，andwastheslaveoftheunnecessarydesires，whereashewhowassubjectothenecessaryonlywasmiserlyandoligarchical？
　　Verytrue。
　　Again，letusseehowthedemocraticalmangrowsoutoftheoligarchical：thefollowing，asIsuspect，iscommonlytheprocess。
　　Whatistheprocess？
　　Whenayoungmanwhohasbeenbroughtupaswewerejustnowdescribing，inavulgarandmiserlyway，hastasteddrones’honeyandhascometoassociatewithfierceandcraftynatureswhoareabletoprovideforhimallsortsofrefinementsandvarietiesofpleasure——then，asyoumayimagine，thechangewillbeginoftheoligarchicalprinciplewithinhimintothedemocratical？
　　Inevitably。
　　Andasinthecitylikewashelpinglike，andthechangewaseffectedbyanalliancefromwithoutassistingonedivisionofthecitizens，sotootheyoungmanischangedbyaclassofdesirescomingfromwithouttoassistthedesireswithinhim，thatwhichisandalikeagainhelpingthatwhichisakinandalike？
　　Certainly。
　　Andiftherebeanyallywhichaidstheoligarchicalprinciplewithinhim，whethertheinfluenceofafatherorofkindred，advisingorrebukinghim，thentherearisesinhissoulafactionandanoppositefaction，andhegoestowarwithhimself。
　　Itmustbeso。
　　Andtherearetimeswhenthedemocraticalprinciplegiveswaytotheoligarchical，andsomeofhisdesiresdie，andothersarebanished；
　　aspiritofreverenceentersintotheyoungman’ssoulandorderisrestored。
　　Yes，hesaid，thatsometimeshappens。
　　Andthen，again，aftertheolddesireshavebeendrivenout，freshonesspringup，whichareakintothem，andbecausehe，theirfather，doesnotknowhowtoeducatethem，waxfierceandnumerous。
　　Yes，hesaid，thatisapttobetheway。
　　Theydrawhimtohisoldassociates，andholdingsecretintercoursewiththem，breedandmultiplyinhim。
　　Verytrue。
　　Atlengththeyseizeuponthecitadeloftheyoungman’ssoul，whichtheyperceivetobevoidofallaccomplishmentsandfairpursuitsandtruewords，whichmaketheirabodeinthemindsofmenwhoaredeartothegods，andaretheirbestguardiansandsentinels。
　　Nonebetter。
　　Falseandboastfulconceitsandphrasesmountupwardsandtaketheirplace。
　　Theyarecertaintodoso。
　　Andsotheyoungmanreturnsintothecountryofthelotus—eaters，andtakesuphisdwellingthereinthefaceofallmen；andifanyhelpbesentbyhisfriendstotheoligarchicalpartofhim，theaforesaidvainconceitsshutthegateoftheking’sfastness；andtheywillneitherallowtheembassyitselftoenter，privateifprivateadvisersofferthefatherlycounseloftheagedwilltheylistentothemorreceivethem。Thereisabattleandtheygaintheday，andthenmodesty，whichtheycallsilliness，isignominiouslythrustintoexilebythem，andtemperance，whichtheynicknameunmanliness，istrampledinthemireandcastforth；theypersuadementhatmoderationandorderlyexpenditurearevulgarityandmeanness，andso，bythehelpofarabbleofevilappetites，theydrivethembeyondtheborder。
　　Yes，withawill。
　　Andwhentheyhaveemptiedandsweptcleanthesoulofhimwhoisnowintheirpowerandwhoisbeinginitiatedbythemingreatmysteries，thenextthingistobringbacktotheirhouseinsolenceandanarchyandwasteandimpudenceinbrightarrayhavinggarlandsontheirheads，andagreatcompanywiththem，hymningtheirpraisesandcallingthembysweetnames；insolencetheytermbreeding，andanarchyliberty，andwastemagnificence，andimpudencecourage。Andsotheyoungmanpassesoutofhisoriginalnature，whichwastrainedintheschoolofnecessity，intothefreedomandlibertinismofuselessandunnecessarypleasures。
　　Yes，hesaid，thechangeinhimisvisibleenough。
　　Afterthisheliveson，spendinghismoneyandlabourandtimeonunnecessarypleasuresquiteasmuchasonnecessaryones；butifhebefortunate，andisnottoomuchdisorderedinhiswits，whenyearshaveelapsed，andtheheydayofpassionisover——supposingthathethenre—admitsintothecitysomepartoftheexiledvirtues，anddoesnotwhollygivehimselfuptotheirsuccessors——inthatcasehebalanceshispleasuresandlivesinasortofequilibrium，puttingthegovernmentofhimselfintothehandsoftheonewhichcomesfirstandwinstheturn；andwhenhehashadenoughofthat，thenintothehandsofanother；hedespisesnoneofthembutencouragesthemallequally。
　　Verytrue，hesaid。
　　Neitherdoeshereceiveorletpassintothefortressanytruewordofadvice；ifanyonesaystohimthatsomepleasuresarethesatisfactionsofgoodandnobledesires，andothersofevildesires，andthatheoughttouseandhonoursomeandchastiseandmastertheothers——wheneverthisisrepeatedtohimheshakeshisheadandsaysthattheyareallalike，andthatoneisasgoodasanother。
　　Yes，hesaid；thatisthewaywithhim。
　　Yes，Isaid，helivesfromdaytodayindulgingtheappetiteofthehour；andsometimesheislappedindrinkandstrainsoftheflute；thenhebecomesawater—drinker，andtriestogetthin；thenhetakesaturnatgymnastics；sometimesidlingandneglectingeverything，thenoncemorelivingthelifeofaphilosopher；oftenhe—isbusywithpolitics，andstartstohisfeetandsaysanddoeswhatevercomesintohishead；and，ifheisemulousofanyonewhoisawarrior，offheisinthatdirection，orofmenofbusiness，oncemoreinthat。Hislifehasneitherlawnororder；andthisdistractedexistencehetermsjoyandblissandfreedom；andsohegoeson。
　　Yes，hereplied，heisalllibertyandequality。
　　Yes，Isaid；hislifeismotleyandmanifoldandanepitomeofthelivesofmany；——heanswerstotheStatewhichwedescribedasfairandspangled。Andmanyamanandmanyawomanwilltakehimfortheirpattern，andmanyaconstitutionandmanyanexampleofmannersiscontainedinhim。
　　Justso。
　　Lethimthenbesetoveragainstdemocracy；hemaytrulybecalledthedemocraticman。
　　Letthatbehisplace，hesaid。
　　Lastofallcomesthemostbeautifulofall，manandStatealike，tyrannyandthetyrant；thesewehavenowtoconsider。
　　Quitetrue，hesaid。