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。