ADEIMANTUS
　　Nonsense，hereplied。Butletmeaddsomethingmore：ThereisanothersidetoGlaucon’sargumentaboutthepraiseandcensureofjusticeandinjustice，whichisequallyrequiredinordertobringoutwhatIbelievetobehismeaning。Parentsandtutorsarealwaystellingtheirsonsandtheirwardsthattheyaretobejust；butwhy？notforthesakeofjustice，butforthesakeofcharacterandreputation；inthehopeofobtainingforhimwhoisreputedjustsomeofthoseoffices，marriages，andthelikewhichGlauconhasenumeratedamongtheadvantagesaccruingtotheunjustfromthereputationofjustice。More，however，ismadeofappearancesbythisclassofpersonsthanbytheothers；fortheythrowinthegoodopinionofthegods，andwilltellyouofashowerofbenefitswhichtheheavens，astheysay，rainuponthepious；andthisaccordswiththetestimonyofthenobleHesiodandHomer，thefirstofwhomsays，thatthegodsmaketheoaksofthejust——
　　Tohearacornsattheirsummit，andbeesIthemiddle；
　　Andthesheeptheboweddownbowedthewiththetheirfleeces。
　　andmanyotherblessingsofalikekindareprovidedforthem。AndHomerhasaverysimilarstrain；forhespeaksofonewhosefameis——
　　Asthefameofsomeblamelesskingwho，likeagod，MaintainsjusticetowhomtheblackearthbringsforthWheatandbarley，whosetreesarebowedwithfruit，Andhissheepneverfailtobear，andtheseagiveshimfish。
　　StillgranderarethegiftsofheavenwhichMusaeusandhissonvouchsafetothejust；theytakethemdownintotheworldbelow，wheretheyhavethesaintslyingoncouchesatafeast，everlastinglydrunk，crownedwithgarlands；theirideaseemstobethatanimmortalityofdrunkennessisthehighestmeedofvirtue。Someextendtheirrewardsyetfurther；theposterity，astheysay，ofthefaithfulandjustshallsurvivetothethirdandfourthgeneration。Thisisthestyleinwhichtheypraisejustice。Butaboutthewickedthereisanotherstrain；theyburytheminasloughinHades，andmakethemcarrywaterinasieve；alsowhiletheyareyetlivingtheybringthemtoinfamy，andinflictuponthemthepunishmentswhichGlaucondescribedastheportionofthejustwhoarereputedtobeunjust；
　　nothingelsedoestheirinventionsupply。Suchistheirmannerofpraisingtheoneandcensuringtheother。
　　Oncemore，Socrates，Iwillaskyoutoconsideranotherwayofspeakingaboutjusticeandinjustice，whichisnotconfinedtothepoets，butisfoundinprosewriters。Theuniversalvoiceofmankindisalwaysdeclaringthatjusticeandvirtuearehonourable，butgrievousandtoilsome；andthatthepleasuresofviceandinjusticeareeasyofattainment，andareonlycensuredbylawandopinion。Theysayalsothathonestyisforthemostpartlessprofitablethandishonesty；andtheyarequitereadytocallwickedmenhappy，andtohonourthembothinpublicandprivatewhentheyarerichorinanyotherwayinfluential，whiletheydespiseandoverlookthosewhomaybeweakandpoor，eventhoughacknowledgingthemtobebetterthantheothers。Butmostextraordinaryofallistheirmodeofspeakingaboutvirtueandthegods：theysaythatthegodsapportioncalamityandmiserytomanygoodmen，andgoodandhappinesstothewicked。Andmendicantprophetsgotorichmen’sdoorsandpersuadethemthattheyhaveapowercommittedtothembythegodsofmakinganatonementforaman’sownorhisancestor’ssinsbysacrificesorcharms，withrejoicingsandfeasts；andtheypromisetoharmanenemy，whetherjustorunjust，atasmallcost；withmagicartsandincantationsbindingheaven，astheysay，toexecutetheirwill。Andthepoetsaretheauthoritiestowhomtheyappeal，nowsmoothingthepathofvicewiththewordsofHesiod；——
　　Vicemaybehadinabundancewithouttrouble；thewayissmoothandherdwelling—placeisnear。Butbeforevirtuethegodshavesettoil，andatediousanduphillroad：thencitingHomerasawitnessthatthegodsmaybeinfluencedbymen；forhealsosays：
　　Thegods，too，mayheturnedfromtheirpurpose；andmenpraytothemandaverttheirwrathbysacrificesandsoothingentreaties，andbylibationsandtheodouroffat，whentheyhavesinnedandtransgressed。
　　AndtheyproduceahostofbookswrittenbyMusaeusandOrpheus，whowerechildrenoftheMoonandtheMuses——thatiswhattheysay——accordingtowhichtheyperformtheirritual，andpersuadenotonlyindividuals，butwholecities，thatexpiationsandatonementsforsinmaybemadebysacrificesandamusementswhichfillavacanthour，andareequallyattheserviceofthelivingandthedead；thelattersorttheycallmysteries，andtheyredeemusfromthepainsofhell，butifweneglectthemnooneknowswhatawaitsus。
　　Heproceeded：Andnowwhentheyounghearallthissaidaboutvirtueandvice，andthewayinwhichgodsandmenregardthem，howaretheirmindslikelytobeaffected，mydearSocrates，——thoseofthem，I
　　mean，whoarequickwitted，and，likebeesonthewing，lightoneveryflower，andfromallthattheyheararepronetodrawconclusionsastowhatmannerofpersonstheyshouldbeandinwhatwaytheyshouldwalkiftheywouldmakethebestoflife？ProbablytheyouthwillsaytohimselfinthewordsofPindar——
　　CanIbyjusticeorbycrookedwaysofdeceitascendaloftiertowerwhichmayheafortresstomeallmydays？
　　Forwhatmensayisthat，ifIamreallyjustandamnotalsothoughtjustprofitthereisnone，butthepainandlossontheotherhandareunmistakable。Butif，thoughunjust，Iacquirethereputationofjustice，aheavenlylifeispromisedtome。Sincethen，asphilosophersprove，appearancetyrannizesovertruthandislordofhappiness，toappearanceImustdevotemyself。Iwilldescribearoundmeapictureandshadowofvirtuetobethevestibuleandexteriorofmyhouse；behindIwilltrailthesubtleandcraftyfox，asArchilochus，greatestofsages，recommends。ButIhearsomeoneexclaimingthattheconcealmentofwickednessisoftendifficult；towhichIanswer，Nothinggreatiseasy。Nevertheless，theargumentindicatesthis，ifwewouldbehappy，tobethepathalongwhichweshouldproceed。Withaviewtoconcealmentwewillestablishsecretbrotherhoodsandpoliticalclubs。Andthereareprofessorsofrhetoricwhoteachtheartofpersuadingcourtsandassemblies；andso，partlybypersuasionandpartlybyforce，Ishallmakeunlawfulgainsandnotbepunished。StillIhearavoicesayingthatthegodscannotbedeceived，neithercantheybecompelled。Butwhatiftherearenogods？or，supposethemtohavenocareofhumanthings——whyineithercaseshouldwemindaboutconcealment？Andeveniftherearegods，andtheydocareaboutus，yetweknowofthemonlyfromtraditionandthegenealogiesofthepoets；andthesearetheverypersonswhosaythattheymaybeinfluencedandturnedby’sacrificesandsoothingentreatiesandbyofferings。’Letusbeconsistentthen，andbelievebothorneither。Ifthepoetsspeaktruly，whythenwehadbetterbeunjust，andofferofthefruitsofinjustice；forifwearejust，althoughwemayescapethevengeanceofheaven，weshalllosethegainsofinjustice；but，ifweareunjust，weshallkeepthegains，andbyoursinningandpraying，andprayingandsinning，thegodswillbepropitiated，andweshallnotbepunished。’Butthereisaworldbelowinwhicheitherweorourposteritywillsufferforourunjustdeeds。’Yes，myfriend，willbethereflection，buttherearemysteriesandatoningdeities，andthesehavegreatpower。Thatiswhatmightycitiesdeclare；andthechildrenofthegods，whoweretheirpoetsandprophets，bearaliketestimony。
　　Onwhatprinciple，then，shallweanylongerchoosejusticeratherthantheworstinjustice？when，ifweonlyunitethelatterwithadeceitfulregardtoappearances，weshallfaretoourmindbothwithgodsandmen，inlifeandafterdeath，asthemostnumerousandthehighestauthoritiestellus。Knowingallthis，Socrates，howcanamanwhohasanysuperiorityofmindorpersonorrankorwealth，bewillingtohonourjustice；orindeedtorefrainfromlaughingwhenhehearsjusticepraised？Andevenifthereshouldbesomeonewhoisabletodisprovethetruthofmywords，andwhoissatisfiedthatjusticeisbest，stillheisnotangrywiththeunjust，butisveryreadytoforgivethem，becausehealsoknowsthatmenarenotjustoftheirownfreewill；unless，peradventure，therebesomeonewhomthedivinitywithinhimmayhaveinspiredwithahatredofinjustice，orwhohasattainedknowledgeofthetruth——butnootherman。Heonlyblamesinjusticewho，owingtocowardiceorageorsomeweakness，hasnotthepowerofbeingunjust。Andthisisprovedbythefactthatwhenheobtainsthepower，heimmediatelybecomesunjustasfarashecanbe。
　　Thecauseofallthis，Socrates，wasindicatedbyusatthebeginningoftheargument，whenmybrotherandItoldyouhowastonishedweweretofindthatofalltheprofessingpanegyristsofjustice——beginningwiththeancientheroesofwhomanymemorialhasbeenpreservedtous，andendingwiththemenofourowntime——noonehaseverblamedinjusticeorpraisedjusticeexceptwithaviewtotheglories，honours，andbenefitswhichflowfromthem。Noonehaseveradequatelydescribedeitherinverseorprosethetrueessentialnatureofeitherofthemabidinginthesoul，andinvisibletoanyhumanordivineeye；orshownthatofallthethingsofaman’ssoulwhichhehaswithinhim，justiceisthegreatestgood，andinjusticethegreatestevil。Hadthisbeentheuniversalstrain，hadyousoughttopersuadeusofthisfromouryouthupwards，weshouldnothavebeenonthewatchtokeeponeanotherfromdoingwrong，buteveryonewouldhavebeenhisownwatchman，becauseafraid，ifhedidwrong，ofharbouringinhimselfthegreatestofevils。IdaresaythatThrasymachusandotherswouldseriouslyholdthelanguagewhichIhavebeenmerelyrepeating，andwordsevenstrongerthantheseaboutjusticeandinjustice，grossly，asIconceive，pervertingtheirtruenature。ButIspeakinthisvehementmanner，asImustfranklyconfesstoyou，becauseIwanttohearfromyoutheoppositeside；andIwouldaskyoutoshownotonlythesuperioritywhichjusticehasoverinjustice，butwhateffecttheyhaveonthepossessorofthemwhichmakestheonetobeagoodandtheotheraneviltohim。Andplease，asGlauconrequestedofyou，toexcludereputations；forunlessyoutakeawayfromeachofthemhistruereputationandaddonthefalse，weshallsaythatyoudonotpraisejustice，buttheappearanceofit；weshallthinkthatyouareonlyexhortingustokeepinjusticedark，andthatyoureallyagreewithThrasymachusinthinkingthatjusticeisanother’sgoodandtheinterestofthestronger，andthatinjusticeisaman’sownprofitandinterest，thoughinjurioustotheweaker。Nowasyouhaveadmittedthatjusticeisoneofthathighestclassofgoodswhicharedesiredindeedfortheirresults，butinafargreaterdegreefortheirownsakes——likesightorhearingorknowledgeorhealth，oranyotherrealandnaturalandnotmerelyconventionalgood——Iwouldaskyouinyourpraiseofjusticetoregardonepointonly：Imeantheessentialgoodandevilwhichjusticeandinjusticeworkinthepossessorsofthem。Letotherspraisejusticeandcensureinjustice，magnifyingtherewardsandhonoursoftheoneandabusingtheother；thatisamannerofarguingwhich，comingfromthem，Iamreadytotolerate，butfromyouwhohavespentyourwholelifeintheconsiderationofthisquestion，unlessIhearthecontraryfromyourownlips，Iexpectsomethingbetter。Andtherefore，Isay，notonlyprovetousthatjusticeisbetterthaninjustice，butshowwhattheyeitherofthemdotothepossessorofthem，whichmakestheonetobeagoodandtheotheranevil，whetherseenorunseenbygodsandmen。
　　SOCRATES—ADEIMANTUS
　　IhadalwaysadmiredthegeniusofGlauconandAdeimantus，butonhearingthesewordsIwasquitedelighted，andsaid：Sonsofanillustriousfather，thatwasnotabadbeginningoftheElegiacverseswhichtheadmirerofGlauconmadeinhonourofyouafteryouhaddistinguishedyourselvesatthebattleofMegara：——
　　’SonsofAriston，’hesang，’divineoffspringofanillustrioushero。’
　　Theepithetisveryappropriate，forthereissomethingtrulydivineinbeingabletoargueasyouhavedoneforthesuperiorityofinjustice，andremainingunconvincedbyyourownarguments。AndIdobelievethatyouarenotconvinced——thisIinferfromyourgeneralcharacter，forhadIjudgedonlyfromyourspeechesIshouldhavemistrustedyou。Butnow，thegreatermyconfidenceinyou，thegreaterismydifficultyinknowingwhattosay。ForIaminastraitbetweentwo；ontheonehandIfeelthatIamunequaltothetask；andmyinabilityisbroughthometomebythefactthatyouwerenotsatisfiedwiththeanswerwhichImadetoThrasymachus，proving，asIthought，thesuperioritywhichjusticehasoverinjustice。AndyetI
　　cannotrefusetohelp，whilebreathandspeechremaintome；Iamafraidthattherewouldbeanimpietyinbeingpresentwhenjusticeisevilspokenofandnotliftingupahandinherdefence。AndthereforeIhadbestgivesuchhelpasIcan。
　　Glauconandtherestentreatedmebyallmeansnottoletthequestiondrop，buttoproceedintheinvestigation。Theywantedtoarriveatthetruth，first，aboutthenatureofjusticeandinjustice，andsecondly，abouttheirrelativeadvantages。Itoldthem，whatI
　　——reallythought，thattheenquirywouldbeofaseriousnature，andwouldrequireverygoodeyes。Seeingthen，Isaid，thatwearenogreatwits，IthinkthatwehadbetteradoptamethodwhichImayillustratethus；supposethatashort—sightedpersonhadbeenaskedbysomeonetoreadsmalllettersfromadistance；anditoccurredtosomeoneelsethattheymightbefoundinanotherplacewhichwaslargerandinwhichtheletterswerelarger——iftheywerethesameandhecouldreadthelargerlettersfirst，andthenproceedtothelesser——thiswouldhavebeenthoughtararepieceofgoodfortune。
　　Verytrue，saidAdeimantus；buthowdoestheillustrationapplytoourenquiry？
　　Iwilltellyou，Ireplied；justice，whichisthesubjectofourenquiry，is，asyouknow，sometimesspokenofasthevirtueofanindividual，andsometimesasthevirtueofaState。
　　True，hereplied。
　　AndisnotaStatelargerthananindividual？
　　Itis。
　　Theninthelargerthequantityofjusticeislikelytobelargerandmoreeasilydiscernible。Iproposethereforethatweenquireintothenatureofjusticeandinjustice，firstastheyappearintheState，andsecondlyintheindividual，proceedingfromthegreatertothelesserandcomparingthem。
　　That，hesaid，isanexcellentproposal。
　　AndifweimaginetheStateinprocessofcreation，weshallseethejusticeandinjusticeoftheStateinprocessofcreationalso。
　　Idaresay。
　　WhentheStateiscompletedtheremaybeahopethattheobjectofoursearchwillbemoreeasilydiscovered。
　　Yes，farmoreeasily。
　　Butoughtwetoattempttoconstructone？Isaid；fortodoso，asI
　　aminclinedtothink，willbeaveryserioustask。Reflecttherefore。
　　Ihavereflected，saidAdeimantus，andamanxiousthatyoushouldproceed。
　　AState，Isaid，arises，asIconceive，outoftheneedsofmankind；
　　nooneisself—sufficing，butallofushavemanywants。CananyotheroriginofaStatebeimagined？
　　TherecanIbenoother。
　　Then，aswehavemanywants，andmanypersonsareneededtosupplythem，onetakesahelperforonepurposeandanotherforanother；
　　andwhenthesepartnersandhelpersaregatheredtogetherinonehabitationthebodyofinhabitantsistermedaState。
　　True，hesaid。
　　Andtheyexchangewithoneanother，andonegives，andanotherreceives，undertheideathattheexchangewillbefortheirgood。
　　Verytrue。
　　Then，Isaid，letusbeginandcreateinideaaState；andyetthetruecreatorisnecessity，whoisthemotherofourinvention。
　　Ofcourse，hereplied。
　　Nowthefirstandgreatestofnecessitiesisfood，whichistheconditionoflifeandexistence。
　　Certainly。
　　Thesecondisadwelling，andthethirdclothingandthelike。
　　True。
　　Andnowletusseehowourcitywillbeabletosupplythisgreatdemand：Wemaysupposethatonemanisahusbandman，anotherabuilder，someoneelseaweaver——shallweaddtothemashoemaker，orperhapssomeotherpurveyortoourbodilywants？
　　Quiteright。
　　ThebarestnotionofaStatemustincludefourorfivemen。
　　Clearly。
　　Andhowwilltheyproceed？Willeachbringtheresultofhislaboursintoacommonstock？——theindividualhusbandman，forexample，producingforfour，andlabouringfourtimesaslongandasmuchasheneedintheprovisionoffoodwithwhichhesuppliesothersaswellashimself；orwillhehavenothingtodowithothersandnotbeatthetroubleofproducingforthem，butprovideforhimselfaloneafourthofthefoodinafourthofthetime，andintheremainingthree—fourthsofhistimebeemployedinmakingahouseoracoatorapairofshoes，havingnopartnershipwithothers，butsupplyinghimselfallhisownwants？
　　Adeimantusthoughtthatheshouldaimatproducingfoodonlyandnotatproducingeverything。
　　Probably，Ireplied，thatwouldbethebetterway；andwhenIhearyousaythis，Iammyselfremindedthatwearenotallalike；therearediversitiesofnaturesamonguswhichareadaptedtodifferentoccupations。
　　Verytrue。
　　Andwillyouhaveaworkbetterdonewhentheworkmanhasmanyoccupations，orwhenhehasonlyone？
　　Whenhehasonlyone。
　　Further，therecanbenodoubtthataworkisspoiltwhennotdoneattherighttime？
　　Nodoubt。
　　Forbusinessisnotdisposedtowaituntilthedoerofthebusinessisatleisure；butthedoermustfollowupwhatheisdoing，andmakethebusinesshisfirstobject。
　　Hemust。
　　Andifso，wemustinferthatallthingsareproducedmoreplentifullyandeasilyandofabetterqualitywhenonemandoesonethingwhichisnaturaltohimanddoesitattherighttime，andleavesotherthings。
　　Undoubtedly……
　　Thenmorethanfourcitizenswillberequired；forthehusbandmanwillnotmakehisownploughormattock，orotherimplementsofagriculture，iftheyaretobegoodforanything。Neitherwillthebuildermakehistools——andhetooneedsmany；andinlikemannertheweaverandshoemaker。
　　True。
　　Thencarpenters，andsmiths，andmanyotherartisans，willbesharersinourlittleState，whichisalreadybeginningtogrow？
　　True。
　　Yetevenifweaddneatherds，shepherds，andotherherdsmen，inorderthatourhusbandmenmayhaveoxentoploughwith，andbuildersaswellashusbandmenmayhavedraughtcattle，andcurriersandweaversfleecesandhides，——stillourStatewillnotbeverylarge。
　　Thatistrue；yetneitherwillitbeaverysmallStatewhichcontainsallthese。
　　Then，again，thereisthesituationofthecity——tofindaplacewherenothingneedbeimportediswell—nighimpossible。
　　Impossible。
　　Thentheremustbeanotherclassofcitizenswhowillbringtherequiredsupplyfromanothercity？
　　Theremust。
　　Butifthetradergoesempty—handed，havingnothingwhichtheyrequirewhowouldsupplyhisneed，hewillcomebackempty—handed。
　　Thatiscertain。
　　Andthereforewhattheyproduceathomemustbenotonlyenoughforthemselves，butsuchbothinquantityandqualityastoaccommodatethosefromwhomtheirwantsaresupplied。
　　Verytrue。
　　Thenmorehusbandmenandmoreartisanswillberequired？
　　Theywill。
　　Nottomentiontheimportersandexporters，whoarecalledmerchants？
　　Yes。
　　Thenweshallwantmerchants？
　　Weshall。
　　Andifmerchandiseistobecarriedoverthesea，skilfulsailorswillalsobeneeded，andinconsiderablenumbers？
　　Yes，inconsiderablenumbers。
　　Then，again，withinthecity，howwilltheyexchangetheirproductions？Tosecuresuchanexchangewas，asyouwillremember，oneofourprincipalobjectswhenweformedthemintoasocietyandconstitutedaState。
　　Clearlytheywillbuyandsell。
　　Thentheywillneedamarket—place，andamoney—tokenforpurposesofexchange。
　　Certainly。
　　Supposenowthatahusbandman，oranartisan，bringssomeproductiontomarket，andhecomesatatimewhenthereisnoonetoexchangewithhim，——ishetoleavehiscallingandsitidleinthemarket—place？
　　Notatall；hewillfindpeopletherewho，seeingthewant，undertaketheofficeofsalesmen。Inwell—orderedStatestheyarecommonlythosewhoaretheweakestinbodilystrength，andthereforeoflittleuseforanyotherpurpose；theirdutyistobeinthemarket，andtogivemoneyinexchangeforgoodstothosewhodesiretosellandtotakemoneyfromthosewhodesiretobuy。
　　Thiswant，then，createsaclassofretail—tradersinourState。
　　Isnot’retailer’thetermwhichisappliedtothosewhositinthemarket—placeengagedinbuyingandselling，whilethosewhowanderfromonecitytoanotherarecalledmerchants？
　　Yes，hesaid。