Andofthisthereasonissaidtohavebeenasfollows：-Cronosknewwhatweourselvesweredeclaring，thatnohumannatureinvestedwithsupremepowerisabletoorderhumanaffairsandnotoverflowwithinsolenceandwrong。Whichreflectionledhimtoappointnotmenbutdemigods，whoareofahigherandmoredivinerace，tobethekingsandrulersofourcities；hedidaswedowithflocksofsheepandothertameanimals。Forwedonotappointoxentobethelordsofoxen，orgoatsofgoats；butweourselvesareasuperiorrace，andruleoverthem。InlikemannerGod，inhisloveofmankind，placedoverusthedemons，whoareasuperiorrace，andtheywithgreatcaseandpleasuretothemselves，andnolesstous，takingcareusandgivinguspeaceandreverenceandorderandjusticeneverfailing，madethetribesofmenhappyandunited。Andthistradition，whichistrue，declaresthatcitiesofwhichsomemortalmanandnotGodistheruler，havenoescapefromevilsandtoils。StillwemustdoallthatwecantoimitatethelifewhichissaidtohaveexistedinthedaysofCronos，and，asfarastheprincipleofimmortalitydwellsinus，tothatwemusthearken，bothinprivateandpubliclife，andregulateourcitiesandhousesaccordingtolaw，meaningbytheveryterm“law，“thedistributionofmind。Butifeitherasinglepersonoranoligarchyorademocracyhasasouleagerafterpleasuresanddesires-wantingtobefilledwiththem，yetretainingnoneofthem，andperpetuallyafflictedwithanendlessandinsatiabledisorder；andthisevilspirit，havingfirsttrampledthelawsunderfoot，becomesthemastereitherofastateorofanindividual-then，asIwassaying，salvationishopeless。Andnow，Cleinias，wehavetoconsiderwhetheryouwillorwillnotacceptthistaleofmine。
Cle。Certainlywewill。
Ath。Youareaware-areyounot？-thatthereareofsaidtobeasmanyformsoflawsasthereareofgovernments，andofthelatterwehavealreadymentionedallthosewhicharecommonlyrecognized。Nowyoumustregardthisasamatteroffirst-rateimportance。Forwhatistobethestandardofjustandunjust，isoncemorethepointatissue。Mensaythatthelawoughtnottoregardeithermilitaryvirtue，orvirtueingeneral，butonlytheinterestsandpowerandpreservationoftheestablishedformofgovernment；thisisthoughtbythemtobethebestwayofexpressingthenaturaldefinitionofjustice。
Cle。How？
Ath。Justiceissaidbythemtobetheinterestofthestronger。