第11章
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  Andsoingymnastics,ifamantakesviolentexerciseandisagreatfeeder,andthereverseofagreatstudentofmusicandphilosophy,atfirstthehighconditionofhisbodyfillshimwithprideandspirit,andliebecomestwicethemanthathewas。

  Certainly。

  Andwhathappens?ifhedonothingelse,andholdsnocon—aversewiththeMuses,doesnoteventhatintelligencewhichtheremaybeinhim,havingnotasteofanysortoflearningorenquiryorthoughtorculture,growfeebleanddullandblind,hismindneverwakinguporreceivingnourishment,andhissensesnotbeingpurgedoftheirmists?

  True,hesaid。

  Andheendsbybecomingahaterofphilosophy,uncivilized,neverusingtheweaponofpersuasion,——heislikeawildbeast,allviolenceandfierceness,andknowsnootherwayofdealing;andhelivesinallignoranceandevilconditions,andhasnosenseofproprietyandgrace。

  Thatisquitetrue,hesaid。

  Andastherearetwoprinciplesofhumannature,onethespiritedandtheotherthephilosophical,someGod,asIshouldsay,hasgivenmankindtwoartsansweringtothem(andonlyindirectlytothesoulandbody),inorderthatthesetwoprinciples(likethestringsofaninstrument)mayberelaxedordrawntighteruntiltheyaredulyharmonised。

  Thatappearstobetheintention。

  Andhewhominglesmusicwithgymnasticinthefairestproportions,andbestattempersthemtothesoul,mayberightlycalledthetruemusicianandharmonistinafarhighersensethanthetunerofthestrings。

  Youarequiteright,Socrates。

  AndsuchapresidinggeniuswillbealwaysrequiredinourStateifthegovernmentistolast。

  Yes,hewillbeabsolutelynecessary。

  Such,then,areourprinciplesofnurtureandeducation:Wherewouldbetheuseofgoingintofurtherdetailsaboutthedancesofourcitizens,orabouttheirhuntingandcoursing,theirgymnasticandequestriancontests?Fortheseallfollowthegeneralprinciple,andhavingfoundthat,weshallhavenodifficultyindiscoveringthem。

  Idaresaythattherewillbenodifficulty。

  Verygood,Isaid;thenwhatisthenextquestion?Mustwenotaskwhoaretoberulersandwhosubjects?

  Certainly。

  Therecanbenodoubtthattheeldermustruletheyounger。

  Clearly。

  Andthatthebestofthesemustrule。

  Thatisalsoclear。

  Now,arenotthebesthusbandmenthosewhoaremostdevotedtohusbandry?

  Yes。

  Andaswearetohavethebestofguardiansforourcity,musttheynotbethosewhohavemostthecharacterofguardians?

  Yes。

  Andtothisendtheyoughttobewiseandefficient,andtohaveaspecialcareoftheState?

  True。

  Andamanwillbemostlikelytocareaboutthatwhichheloves?

  Tobesure。

  Andhewillbemostlikelytolovethatwhichheregardsashavingthesameinterestswithhimself,andthatofwhichthegoodorevilfortuneissupposedbyhimatanytimemosttoaffecthisown?

  Verytrue,hereplied。

  Thentheremustbeaselection。Letusnoteamongtheguardiansthosewhointheirwholelifeshowthegreatesteagernesstodowhatisforthegoodoftheircountry,andthegreatestrepugnancetodowhatisagainstherinterests。

  Thosearetherightmen。

  Andtheywillhavetobewatchedateveryage,inorderthatwemayseewhethertheypreservetheirresolution,andnever,undertheinfluenceeitherofforceorenchantment,forgetorcastofftheirsenseofdutytotheState。

  Howcastoff?hesaid。

  Iwillexplaintoyou,Ireplied。Aresolutionmaygooutofaman’smindeitherwithhiswilloragainsthiswill;withhiswillwhenhegetsridofafalsehoodandlearnsbetter,againsthiswillwheneverheisdeprivedofatruth。

  Iunderstand,hesaid,thewillinglossofaresolution;themeaningoftheunwillingIhaveyettolearn。

  Why,Isaid,doyounotseethatmenareunwillinglydeprivedofgood,andwillinglyofevil?Isnottohavelostthetruthanevil,andtopossessthetruthagood?andyouwouldagreethattoconceivethingsastheyareistopossessthetruth?

  Yes,hereplied;Iagreewithyouinthinkingthatmankindaredeprivedoftruthagainsttheirwill。

  Andisnotthisinvoluntarydeprivationcausedeitherbytheft,orforce,orenchantment?

  Still,hereplied,Idonotunderstandyou。

  IfearthatImusthavebeentalkingdarkly,likethetragedians。

  Ionlymeanthatsomemenarechangedbypersuasionandthatothersforget;argumentstealsawaytheheartsofoneclass,andtimeoftheother;andthisIcalltheft。Nowyouunderstandme?

  Yes。

  Thoseagainwhoareforcedarethosewhomtheviolenceofsomepainorgriefcompelstochangetheiropinion。

  Iunderstand,hesaid,andyouarequiteright。

  Andyouwouldalsoacknowledgethattheenchantedarethosewhochangetheirmindseitherunderthesofterinfluenceofpleasure,orthesternerinfluenceoffear?

  Yes,hesaid;everythingthatdeceivesmaybesaidtoenchant。

  Therefore,asIwasjustnowsaying,wemustenquirewhoarethebestguardiansoftheirownconvictionthatwhattheythinktheinterestoftheStateistobetheruleoftheirlives。Wemustwatchthemfromtheiryouthupwards,andmakethemperformactionsinwhichtheyaremostlikelytoforgetortobedeceived,andhewhoremembersandisnotdeceivedistobeselected,andhewhofallsinthetrialistoberejected。Thatwillbetheway?

  Yes。

  Andthereshouldalsobetoilsandpainsandconflictsprescribedforthem,inwhichtheywillbemadetogivefurtherproofofthesamequalities。

  Veryright,hereplied。

  Andthen,Isaid,wemusttrythemwithenchantmentsthatisthethirdsortoftest——andseewhatwillbetheirbehaviour:likethosewhotakecoltsamidnoiseandtumulttoseeiftheyareofatimidnature,somustwetakeouryouthamidterrorsofsomekind,andagainpassthemintopleasures,andprovethemmorethoroughlythangoldisprovedinthefurnace,thatwemaydiscoverwhethertheyarearmedagainstallenchantments,andofanoblebearingalways,goodguardiansofthemselvesandofthemusicwhichtheyhavelearned,andretainingunderallcircumstancesarhythmicalandharmoniousnature,suchaswillbemostserviceabletotheindividualandtotheState。Andhewhoateveryage,asboyandyouthandinmaturelife,hascomeoutofthetrialvictoriousandpure,shallbeappointedarulerandguardianoftheState;heshallbehonouredinlifeanddeath,andshallreceivesepultureandothermemorialsofhonour,thegreatestthatwehavetogive。Buthimwhofails,wemustreject。Iaminclinedtothinkthatthisisthesortofwayinwhichourrulersandguardiansshouldbechosenandappointed。Ispeakgenerally,andnotwithanypretensiontoexactness。

  And,speakinggenerally,Iagreewithyou,hesaid。

  Andperhapstheword’guardian’inthefullestsenseoughttobeappliedtothishigherclassonlywhopreserveusagainstforeignenemiesandmaintainpeaceamongourcitizensathome,thattheonemaynothavethewill,ortheothersthepower,toharmus。Theyoungmenwhomwebeforecalledguardiansmaybemoreproperlydesignatedauxiliariesandsupportersoftheprinciplesoftherulers。

  Iagreewithyou,hesaid。

  Howthenmaywedeviseoneofthoseneedfulfalsehoodsofwhichwelatelyspoke——justoneroyalliewhichmaydeceivetherulers,ifthatbepossible,andatanyratetherestofthecity?

  Whatsortoflie?hesaid。

  Nothingnew,Ireplied;onlyanoldPhoeniciantaleofwhathasoftenoccurredbeforenowinotherplaces,(asthepoetssay,andhavemadetheworldbelieve,)thoughnotinourtime,andIdonotknowwhethersuchaneventcouldeverhappenagain,orcouldnowevenbemadeprobable,ifitdid。

  Howyourwordsseemtohesitateonyourlips!

  Youwillnotwonder,Ireplied,atmyhesitationwhenyouhaveheard。

  Speak,hesaid,andfearnot。

  Wellthen,Iwillspeak,althoughIreallyknownothowtolookyouintheface,orinwhatwordstouttertheaudaciousfiction,whichIproposetocommunicategradually,firsttotherulers,thentothesoldiers,andlastlytothepeople。Theyaretobetoldthattheiryouthwasadream,andtheeducationandtrainingwhichtheyreceivedfromus,anappearanceonly;inrealityduringallthattimetheywerebeingformedandfedinthewomboftheearth,wheretheythemselvesandtheirarmsandappurtenancesweremanufactured;

  whentheywerecompleted,theearth,theirmother,sentthemup;andso,theircountrybeingtheirmotherandalsotheirnurse,theyareboundtoadviseforhergood,andtodefendheragainstattacks,andhercitizenstheyaretoregardaschildrenoftheearthandtheirownbrothers。

  Youhadgoodreason,hesaid,tobeashamedoftheliewhichyouweregoingtotell。

  True,Ireplied,butthereismorecoming;Ihaveonlytoldyouhalf。Citizens,weshallsaytotheminourtale,youarebrothers,yetGodhasframedyoudifferently。Someofyouhavethepowerofcommand,andinthecompositionofthesehehasmingledgold,whereforealsotheyhavethegreatesthonour;othershehasmadeofsilver,tobeauxillaries;othersagainwhoaretobehusbandmenandcraftsmenhehascomposedofbrassandiron;andthespecieswillgenerallybepreservedinthechildren。Butasallareofthesameoriginalstock,agoldenparentwillsometimeshaveasilverson,orasilverparentagoldenson。AndGodproclaimsasafirstprincipletotherulers,andaboveallelse,thatthereisnothingwhichshouldsoanxiouslyguard,orofwhichtheyaretobesuchgoodguardians,asofthepurityoftherace。Theyshouldobservewhatelementsmingleintheiroffspring;forifthesonofagoldenorsilverparenthasanadmixtureofbrassandiron,thennatureordersatranspositionofranks,andtheeyeoftherulermustnotbepitifultowardsthechildbecausehehastodescendinthescaleandbecomeahusbandmanorartisan,justastheremaybesonsofartisanswhohavinganadmixtureofgoldorsilverinthemareraisedtohonour,andbecomeguardiansorauxiliaries。ForanoraclesaysthatwhenamanofbrassorironguardstheState,itwillbedestroyed。Suchisthetale;isthereanypossibilityofmakingourcitizensbelieveinit?

  Notinthepresentgeneration,hereplied;thereisnowayofaccomplishingthis;buttheirsonsmaybemadetobelieveinthetale,andtheirsons’sons,andposterityafterthem。

  Iseethedifficulty,Ireplied;yetthefosteringofsuchabeliefwillmakethemcaremoreforthecityandforoneanother。

  Enough,however,ofthefiction,whichmaynowflyabroaduponthewingsofrumour,whilewearmourearth—bornheroes,andleadthemforthunderthecommandoftheirrulers。Letthemlookroundandselectaspotwhencetheycanbestsuppressinsurrection,ifanyproverefractorywithin,andalsodefendthemselvesagainstenemies,wholikewolvesmaycomedownonthefoldfromwithout;thereletthemencamp,andwhentheyhaveencamped,letthemsacrificetotheproperGodsandpreparetheirdwellings。

  Justso,hesaid。

  Andtheirdwellingsmustbesuchaswillshieldthemagainstthecoldofwinterandtheheatofsummer。

  Isupposethatyoumeanhouses,hereplied。

  Yes,Isaid;buttheymustbethehousesofsoldiers,andnotofshop—keepers。

  Whatisthedifference?hesaid。

  ThatIwillendeavourtoexplain,Ireplied。Tokeepwatchdogs,who,fromwantofdisciplineorhunger,orsomeevilhabit,orevilhabitorother,wouldturnuponthesheepandworrythem,andbehavenotlikedogsbutwolves,wouldbeafoulandmonstrousthinginashepherd?

  Trulymonstrous,hesaid。

  Andthereforeeverycaremustbetakenthatourauxiliaries,beingstrongerthanourcitizens,maynotgrowtobetoomuchforthemandbecomesavagetyrantsinsteadoffriendsandallies?

  Yes,greatcareshouldbetaken。

  Andwouldnotareallygoodeducationfurnishthebestsafeguard?

  Buttheyarewell—educatedalready,hereplied。

  Icannotbesoconfident,mydearGlaucon,Isaid;Iammuchcertainthattheyoughttobe,andthattrueeducation,whateverthatmaybe,willhavethegreatesttendencytocivilizeandhumanizethemintheirrelationstooneanother,andtothosewhoareundertheirprotection。

  Verytrue,hereplied。

  Andnotonlytheireducation,buttheirhabitations,andallthatbelongstothem,shouldbesuchaswillneitherimpairtheirvirtueasguardians,nortemptthemtopreyupontheothercitizens。Anymanofsensemustacknowledgethat。

  Hemust。

  Thenletusconsiderwhatwillbetheirwayoflife,iftheyaretorealizeourideaofthem。Inthefirstplace,noneofthemshouldhaveanypropertyofhisownbeyondwhatisabsolutelynecessary;

  neithershouldtheyhaveaprivatehouseorstoreclosedagainstanyonewhohasamindtoenter;theirprovisionsshouldbeonlysuchasarerequiredbytrainedwarriors,whoaremenoftemperanceandcourage;theyshouldagreetoreceivefromthecitizensafixedrateofpay,enoughtomeettheexpensesoftheyearandnomore;andtheywillgoandlivetogetherlikesoldiersinacamp。GoldandsilverwewilltellthemthattheyhavefromGod;thedivinermetaliswithinthem,andtheyhavethereforenoneedofthedrosswhichiscurrentamongmen,andoughtnottopollutethedivinebyanysuchearthlyadmixture;forthatcommonermetalhasbeenthesourceofmanyunholydeeds,buttheirownisundefiled。Andtheyaloneofallthecitizensmaynottouchorhandlesilverorgold,orbeunderthesameroofwiththem,orwearthem,ordrinkfromthem。Andthiswillbetheirsalvation,andtheywillbethesavioursoftheState。Butshouldtheyeveracquirehomesorlandsormoneysoftheirown,theywillbecomehousekeepersandhusbandmeninsteadofguardians,enemiesandtyrantsinsteadofalliesoftheothercitizens;hatingandbeinghated,plottingandbeingplottedagainst,theywillpasstheirwholelifeinmuchgreaterterrorofinternalthanofexternalenemies,andthehourofruin,bothtothemselvesandtotherestoftheState,willbeathand。ForallwhichreasonsmaywenotsaythatthusshallourStatebeordered,andthattheseshallbetheregulationsappointedbyusforguardiansconcerningtheirhousesandallothermatters?otherYes,saidGlaucon。

  BOOKIV

  ADEIMANTUS—SOCRATES

  HEREAdeimantusinterposedaquestion:Howwouldyouanswer,Socrates,saidhe,ifapersonweretosaythatyouaremakingthesepeoplemiserable,andthattheyarethecauseoftheirownunhappiness;thecityinfactbelongstothem,buttheyarenonethebetterforit;whereasothermenacquirelands,andbuildlargeandhandsomehouses,andhaveeverythinghandsomeaboutthem,offeringsacrificestothegodsontheirownaccount,andpractisinghospitality;moreover,asyouweresayingjustnow,theyhavegoldandsilver,andallthatisusualamongthefavouritesoffortune;butourpoorcitizensarenobetterthanmercenarieswhoarequarteredinthecityandarealwaysmountingguard?

  Yes,Isaid;andyoumayaddthattheyareonlyfed,andnotpaidinadditiontotheirfood,likeothermen;andthereforetheycannot,iftheywould,takeajourneyofpleasure;theyhavenomoneytospendonamistressoranyotherluxuriousfancy,which,astheworldgoes,isthoughttobehappiness;andmanyotheraccusationsofthesamenaturemightbeadded。

  But,saidhe,letussupposeallthistobeincludedinthecharge。

  Youmeantoask,Isaid,whatwillbeouranswer?

  Yes。

  Ifweproceedalongtheoldpath,mybelief,Isaid,isthatweshallfindtheanswer。Andouranswerwillbethat,evenastheyare,ourguardiansmayverylikelybethehappiestofmen;butthatouraiminfoundingtheStatewasnotthedisproportionatehappinessofanyoneclass,butthegreatesthappinessofthewhole;wethoughtthatinaStatewhichisorderedwithaviewtothegoodofthewholeweshouldbemostlikelytofindJustice,andintheill—orderedStateinjustice:and,havingfoundthem,wemightthendecidewhichofthetwoisthehappier。Atpresent,Itakeit,wearefashioningthehappyState,notpiecemeal,orwithaviewofmakingafewhappycitizens,butasawhole;andby—and—bywewillproceedtoviewtheoppositekindofState。Supposethatwewerepaintingastatue,andsomeonecameuptousandsaid,Whydoyounotputthemostbeautifulcoloursonthemostbeautifulpartsofthebody——theeyesoughttobepurple,butyouhavemadethemblack——tohimwemightfairlyanswer,Sir,youwouldnotsurelyhaveusbeautifytheeyestosuchadegreethattheyarenolongereyes;considerratherwhether,bygivingthisandtheotherfeaturestheirdueproportion,wemakethewholebeautiful。AndsoIsaytoyou,donotcompelustoassigntotheguardiansasortofhappinesswhichwillmakethemanythingbutguardians;forwetoocanclotheourhusbandmeninroyalapparel,andsetcrownsofgoldontheirheads,andbidthemtillthegroundasmuchastheylike,andnomore。Ourpottersalsomightbeallowedtoreposeoncouches,andfeastbythefireside,passingroundthewinecup,whiletheirwheelisconvenientlyathand,andworkingatpotteryonlyasmuchastheylike;inthiswaywemightmakeeveryclasshappy—andthen,asyouimagine,thewholeStatewouldbehappy。Butdonotputthisideaintoourheads;for,ifwelistentoyou,thehusbandmanwillbenolongerahusbandman,thepotterwillceasetobeapotter,andnoonewillhavethecharacterofanydistinctclassintheState。Nowthisisnotofmuchconsequencewherethecorruptionofsociety,andpretensiontobewhatyouarenot,isconfinedtocobblers;butwhentheguardiansofthelawsandofthegovernmentareonlyseeminglyandnotrealguardians,thenseehowtheyturntheStateupsidedown;andontheotherhandtheyalonehavethepowerofgivingorderandhappinesstotheState。WemeanourguardianstobetruesavioursandnotthedestroyersoftheState,whereasouropponentisthinkingofpeasantsatafestival,whoareenjoyingalifeofrevelry,notofcitizenswhoaredoingtheirdutytotheState。But,ifso,wemeandifferentthings,andheisspeakingofsomethingwhichisnotaState。Andthereforewemustconsiderwhetherinappointingourguardianswewouldlooktotheirgreatesthappinessindividually,orwhetherthisprincipleofhappinessdoesnotratherresideintheStateasawhole。Butthelatterbethetruth,thentheguardiansandauxillaries,andallothersequallywiththem,mustbecompelledorinducedtodotheirownworkinthebestway。AndthusthewholeStatewillgrowupinanobleorder,andtheseveralclasseswillreceivetheproportionofhappinesswhichnatureassignstothem。

  Ithinkthatyouarequiteright。

  Iwonderwhetheryouwillagreewithanotherremarkwhichoccurstome。

  Whatmaythatbe?

  Thereseemtobetwocausesofthedeteriorationofthearts。

  Whatarethey?

  Wealth,Isaid,andpoverty。

  Howdotheyact?

  Theprocessisasfollows:Whenapotterbecomesrich,willhe,thinkyou,anylongertakethesamepainswithhisart?

  Certainlynot。

  Hewillgrowmoreandmoreindolentandcareless?

  Verytrue。

  Andtheresultwillbethathebecomesaworsepotter?

  Yes;hegreatlydeteriorates。

  But,ontheotherhand,ifhehasnomoney,andcannotprovidehimselftoolsorinstruments,hewillnotworkequallywellhimself,norwillheteachhissonsorapprenticestoworkequallywell。

  Certainlynot。

  Then,undertheinfluenceeitherofpovertyorofwealth,workmenandtheirworkareequallyliabletodegenerate?

  Thatisevident。

  Here,then,isadiscoveryofnewevils,Isaid,againstwhichtheguardianswillhavetowatch,ortheywillcreepintothecityunobserved。

  Whatevils?

  Wealth,Isaid,andpoverty;theoneistheparentofluxuryandindolence,andtheotherofmeannessandviciousness,andbothofdiscontent。

  Thatisverytrue,hereplied;butstillIshouldliketoknow,Socrates,howourcitywillbeabletogotowar,especiallyagainstanenemywhoisrichandpowerful,ifdeprivedofthesinewsofwar。

  Therewouldcertainlybeadifficulty,Ireplied,ingoingtowarwithonesuchenemy;butthereisnodifficultywheretherearetwoofthem。

  Howso?heasked。

  Inthefirstplace,Isaid,ifwehavetofight,oursidewillbetrainedwarriorsfightingagainstanarmyofrichmen。

  Thatistrue,hesaid。

  Anddoyounotsuppose,Adeimantus,thatasingleboxerwhowasperfectinhisartwouldeasilybeamatchfortwostoutandwell—to—dogentlemenwhowerenotboxers?

  Hardly,iftheycameuponhimatonce。

  What,not,Isaid,ifhewereabletorunawayandthenturnandstrikeattheonewhofirstcameup?Andsupposingheweretodothisseveraltimesundertheheatofascorchingsun,mighthenot,beinganexpert,overturnmorethanonestoutpersonage?

  Certainly,hesaid,therewouldbenothingwonderfulinthat。

  Andyetrichmenprobablyhaveagreatersuperiorityinthescienceandpracticeofboxingthantheyhaveinmilitaryqualities。

  Likelyenough。

  Thenwemayassumethatourathleteswillbeabletofightwithtwoorthreetimestheirownnumber?

  Iagreewithyou,forIthinkyouright。

  Andsupposethat,beforeengaging,ourcitizenssendanembassytooneofthetwocities,tellingthemwhatisthetruth:Silverandgoldweneitherhavenorarepermittedtohave,butyoumay;doyouthereforecomeandhelpusinwar,ofandtakethespoilsoftheothercity:Who,onhearingthesewords,wouldchoosetofightagainstleanwirydogs,ratherththan,withthedogsontheirside,againstfatandtendersheep?

  Thatisnotlikely;andyettheremightbeadangertothepoorStateifthewealthofmanyStatesweretobegatheredintoone。

  ButhowsimpleofyoutousethetermStateatallofanybutourown!

  Whyso?

  YououghttospeakofotherStatesinthepluralnumber;notoneofthemisacity,butmanycities,astheysayinthegame。Forindeedanycity,howeversmall,isinfactdividedintotwo,onethecityofthepoor,theotheroftherich;theseareatwarwithoneanother;andineithertherearemanysmallerdivisions,andyouwouldbealtogetherbesidethemarkifyoutreatedthemallasasingleState。Butifyoudealwiththemasmany,andgivethewealthorpowerorpersonsoftheonetotheothers,youwillalwayshaveagreatmanyfriendsandnotmanyenemies。AndyourState,whilethewiseorderwhichhasnowbeenprescribedcontinuestoprevailinher,willbethegreatestofStates,Idonotmeantosayinreputationorappearance,butindeedandtruth,thoughshenumbernotmorethanathousanddefenders。AsingleStatewhichisherequalyouwillhardlyfind,eitheramongHellenesorbarbarians,thoughmanythatappeartobeasgreatandmanytimesgreater。

  Thatismosttrue,hesaid。

  Andwhat,Isaid,willbethebestlimitforourrulerstofixwhentheyareconsideringthesizeoftheStateandtheamountofterritorywhichtheyaretoinclude,andbeyondwhichtheywillnotgo?

  Whatlimitwouldyoupropose?

  IwouldallowtheStatetoincreasesofarasisconsistentwithunity;that,Ithink,istheproperlimit。

  Verygood,hesaid。

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