WouldthatIcould！butyoushouldregardmeratherasafollowerwhohasjusteyesenoughto，seewhatyoushowhim——thatisaboutasmuchasIamgoodfor。
Offerupaprayerwithmeandfollow。
Iwill，butyoumustshowmetheway。
Hereisnopath，Isaid，andthewoodisdarkandperplexing；
stillwemustpushon。
Letuspushon。
HereIsawsomething：Halloo！Isaid，Ibegintoperceiveatrack，andIbelievethatthequarrywillnotescape。
Goodnews，hesaid。
Truly，Isaid，wearestupidfellows。
Whyso？
Why，mygoodsir，atthebeginningofourenquiry，agesago，therewasjusticetumblingoutatourfeet，andweneversawher；nothingcouldbemoreridiculous。Likepeoplewhogoaboutlookingforwhattheyhaveintheirhands——thatwasthewaywithus——welookednotatwhatwewereseeking，butatwhatwasfaroffinthedistance；andtherefore，Isuppose，wemissedher。
Whatdoyoumean？
Imeantosaythatinrealityforalongtimepastwehavebeentalkingofjustice，andhavefailedtorecogniseher。
Igrowimpatientatthelengthofyourexordium。
Wellthen，tellme，Isaid，whetherIamrightornot：YouremembertheoriginalprinciplewhichwewerealwayslayingdownatthefoundationoftheState，thatonemanshouldpractiseonethingonly，thethingtowhichhisnaturewasbestadapted；——nowjusticeisthisprincipleorapartofit。
Yes，weoftensaidthatonemanshoulddoonethingonly。
Further，weaffirmedthatjusticewasdoingone’sownbusiness，andnotbeingabusybody；wesaidsoagainandagain，andmanyothershavesaidthesametous。
Yes，wesaidso。
Thentodoone’sownbusinessinacertainwaymaybeassumedtobejustice。CanyoutellmewhenceIderivethisinference？
Icannot，butIshouldliketobetold。
BecauseIthinkthatthisistheonlyvirtuewhichremainsintheStatewhentheothervirtuesoftemperanceandcourageandwisdomareabstracted；and，thatthisistheultimatecauseandconditionoftheexistenceofallofthem，andwhileremaininginthemisalsotheirpreservative；andweweresayingthatifthethreewerediscoveredbyus，justicewouldbethefourthorremainingone。
Thatfollowsofnecessity。
IfweareaskedtodeterminewhichofthesefourqualitiesbyitspresencecontributesmosttotheexcellenceoftheState，whethertheagreementofrulersandsubjects，orthepreservationinthesoldiersoftheopinionwhichthelawordainsaboutthetruenatureofdangers，orwisdomandwatchfulnessintherulers，orwhetherthisotherwhichIammentioning，andwhichisfoundinchildrenandwomen，slaveandfreeman，artisan，ruler，subject，——thequality，Imean，ofeveryonedoinghisownwork，andnotbeingabusybody，wouldclaimthepalm——thequestionisnotsoeasilyanswered。
Certainly，hereplied，therewouldbeadifficultyinsayingwhich。
ThenthepowerofeachindividualintheStatetodohisownworkappearstocompetewiththeotherpoliticalvirtues，wisdom，temperance，courage。
Yes，hesaid。
Andthevirtuewhichentersintothiscompetitionisjustice？
Exactly。
Letuslookatthequestionfromanotherpointofview：ArenottherulersinaStatethosetowhomyouwouldentrusttheofficeofdeterminingsuitsatlaw？
Certainly。
Andaresuitsdecidedonanyothergroundbutthatamanmayneithertakewhatisanother’s，norbedeprivedofwhatishisown？
Yes；thatistheirprinciple。
Whichisajustprinciple？
Yes。
Thenonthisviewalsojusticewillbeadmittedtobethehavinganddoingwhatisaman’sown，andbelongstohim？
Verytrue。
Think，now，andsaywhetheryouagreewithmeornot。Supposeacarpentertobedoingthebusinessofacobbler，oracobblerofacarpenter；andsupposethemtoexchangetheirimplementsortheirduties，orthesamepersontobedoingtheworkofboth，orwhateverbethechange；doyouthinkthatanygreatharmwouldresulttotheState？
Notmuch。
Butwhenthecobbleroranyothermanwhomnaturedesignedtobeatrader，havinghisheartliftedupbywealthorstrengthorthenumberofhisfollowers，oranylikeadvantage，attemptstoforcehiswayintotheclassofwarriors，orawarriorintothatoflegislatorsandguardians，forwhichheisunfitted，andeithertotaketheimplementsorthedutiesoftheother；orwhenonemanistrader，legislator，andwarriorallinone，thenIthinkyouwillagreewithmeinsayingthatthisinterchangeandthismeddlingofonewithanotheristheruinoftheState。
Mosttrue。
Seeingthen，Isaid，thattherearethreedistinctclasses，anymeddlingofonewithanother，orthechangeofoneintoanother，isthegreatestharmtotheState，andmaybemostjustlytermedevil—doing？
Precisely。
Andthegreatestdegreeofevil—doingtoone’sowncitywouldbetermedbyyouinjustice？
Certainly。
Thisthenisinjustice；andontheotherhandwhenthetrader，theauxiliary，andtheguardianeachdotheirownbusiness，thatisjustice，andwillmakethecityjust。
Iagreewithyou。
Wewillnot，Isaid，beover—positiveasyet；butif，ontrial，thisconceptionofjusticebeverifiedintheindividualaswellasintheState，therewillbenolongeranyroomfordoubt；ifitbenotverified，wemusthaveafreshenquiry。Firstletuscompletetheoldinvestigation，whichwebegan，asyouremember，undertheimpressionthat，ifwecouldpreviouslyexaminejusticeonthelargerscale，therewouldbelessdifficultyindiscerningherintheindividual。ThatlargerexampleappearedtobetheState，andaccordinglyweconstructedasgoodaoneaswecould，knowingwellthatinthegoodStatejusticewouldbefound。Letthediscoverywhichwemadebenowappliedtotheindividual——iftheyagree，weshallbesatisfied；or，iftherebeadifferenceintheindividual，wewillcomebacktotheStateandhaveanothertrialofthetheory。
Thefrictionofthetwowhenrubbedtogethermaypossiblystrikealightinwhichjusticewillshineforth，andthevisionwhichisthenrevealedwewillfixinoursouls。
Thatwillbeinregularcourse；letusdoasyousay。
Iproceededtoask：Whentwothings，agreaterandless，arecalledbythesamename，aretheylikeorunlikeinsofarastheyarecalledthesame？
Like，hereplied。
Thejustmanthen，ifweregardtheideaofjusticeonly，willbelikethejustState？
Hewill。
AndaStatewasthoughtbyustobejustwhenthethreeclassesintheStateseverallydidtheirownbusiness；andalsothoughttobetemperateandvaliantandwisebyreasonofcertainotheraffectionsandqualitiesofthesesameclasses？
True，hesaid。
Andsooftheindividual；wemayassumethathehasthesamethreeprinciplesinhisownsoulwhicharefoundintheState；andhemayberightlydescribedinthesameterms，becauseheisaffectedinthesamemanner？
Certainly，hesaid。
Oncemorethen，Omyfriend，wehavealighteduponaneasyquestion——whetherthesoulhasthesethreeprinciplesornot？
Aneasyquestion！Nay，rather，Socrates，theproverbholdsthathardisthegood。
Verytrue，Isaid；andIdonotthinkthatthemethodwhichweareemployingisatalladequatetotheaccuratesolutionofthisquestion；thetruemethodisanotherandalongerone。Stillwemayarriveatasolutionnotbelowthelevelofthepreviousenquiry。
Maywenotbesatisfiedwiththat？hesaid；——underthecircumstances，Iamquitecontent。
Itoo，Ireplied，shallbeextremelywellsatisfied。
Thenfaintnotinpursuingthespeculation，hesaid。
Mustwenotacknowledge，Isaid，thatineachofustherearethesameprinciplesandhabitswhichthereareintheState；andthatfromtheindividualtheypassintotheState？——howelsecantheycomethere？Takethequalityofpassionorspirit；——itwouldberidiculoustoimaginethatthisquality，whenfoundinStates，isnotderivedfromtheindividualswhoaresupposedtopossessit，e。g。theThracians，Scythians，andingeneralthenorthernnations；andthesamemaybesaidoftheloveofknowledge，whichisthespecialcharacteristicofourpartoftheworld，oroftheloveofmoney，whichmay，withequaltruth，beattributedtothePhoeniciansandEgyptians。
Exactlyso，hesaid。
Thereisnodifficultyinunderstandingthis。
Nonewhatever。
Butthequestionisnotquitesoeasywhenweproceedtoaskwhethertheseprinciplesarethreeorone；whether，thatistosay，welearnwithonepartofournature，areangrywithanother，andwithathirdpartdesirethesatisfactionofournaturalappetites；orwhetherthewholesoulcomesintoplayineachsortofaction——todeterminethatisthedifficulty。
Yes，hesaid；thereliesthedifficulty。
Thenletusnowtryanddeterminewhethertheyarethesameordifferent。
Howcanwe？heasked。
Irepliedasfollows：Thesamethingclearlycannotactorbeacteduponinthesamepartorinrelationtothesamethingatthesametime，incontraryways；andthereforewheneverthiscontradictionoccursinthingsapparentlythesame，weknowthattheyarereallynotthesame，butdifferent。
Good。
Forexample，Isaid，canthesamethingbeatrestandinmotionatthesametimeinthesamepart？
Impossible。
Still，Isaid，letushaveamoreprecisestatementofterms，lestweshouldhereafterfalloutbytheway。Imaginethecaseofamanwhoisstandingandalsomovinghishandsandhishead，andsupposeapersontosaythatoneandthesamepersonisinmotionandatrestatthesamemoment—tosuchamodeofspeechweshouldobject，andshouldrathersaythatonepartofhimisinmotionwhileanotherisatrest。
Verytrue。
Andsupposetheobjectortorefinestillfurther，andtodrawthenicedistinctionthatnotonlypartsoftops，butwholetops，whentheyspinroundwiththeirpegsfixedonthespot，areatrestandinmotionatthesametime（andhemaysaythesameofanythingwhichrevolvesinthesamespot），hisobjectionwouldnotbeadmittedbyus，becauseinsuchcasesthingsarenotatrestandinmotioninthesamepartsofthemselves；weshouldrathersaythattheyhavebothanaxisandacircumference，andthattheaxisstandsstill，forthereisnodeviationfromtheperpendicular；andthatthecircumferencegoesround。Butif，whilerevolving，theaxisinclineseithertotherightorleft，forwardsorbackwards，theninnopointofviewcantheybeatrest。
Thatisthecorrectmodeofdescribingthem，hereplied。
Thennoneoftheseobjectionswillconfuseus，orinclineustobelievethatthesamethingatthesametime，inthesamepartorinrelationtothesamething，canactorbeacteduponincontraryways。
Certainlynot，accordingtomywayofthinking。
Yet，Isaid，thatwemaynotbecompelledtoexamineallsuchobjections，andproveatlengththattheyareuntrue，letusassumetheirabsurdity，andgoforwardontheunderstandingthathereafter，ifthisassumptionturnouttobeuntrue，alltheconsequenceswhichfollowshallbewithdrawn。
Yes，hesaid，thatwillbethebestway。
Well，Isaid，wouldyounotallowthatassentanddissent，desireandaversion，attractionandrepulsion，areallofthemopposites，whethertheyareregardedasactiveorpassive（forthatmakesnodifferenceinthefactoftheiropposition）？
Yes，hesaid，theyareopposites。
Well，Isaid，andhungerandthirst，andthedesiresingeneral，andagainwillingandwishing，——alltheseyouwouldrefertotheclassesalreadymentioned。Youwouldsay——wouldyounot？——thatthesoulofhimwhodesiresisseekingaftertheobjectofhisdesires；orthatheisdrawingtohimselfthethingwhichhewishestopossess：oragain，whenapersonwantsanythingtobegivenhim，hismind，longingfortherealisationofhisdesires，intimateshiswishtohaveitbyanodofassent，asifhehadbeenaskedaquestion？
Verytrue。
Andwhatwouldyousayofunwillingnessanddislikeandtheabsenceofdesire；shouldnotthesebereferredtotheoppositeclassofrepulsionandrejection？
Certainly。
Admittingthistobetrueofdesiregenerally，letussupposeaparticularclassofdesires，andoutofthesewewillselecthungerandthirst，astheyaretermed，whicharethemostobviousofthem？
Letustakethatclass，hesaid。
Theobjectofoneisfood，andoftheotherdrink？
Yes。
Andherecomesthepoint：isnotthirstthedesirewhichthesoulhasofdrink，andofdrinkonly；notofdrinkqualifiedbyanythingelse；forexample，warmorcold，ormuchorlittle，or，inaword，drinkofanyparticularsort：butifthethirstbeaccompaniedbyheat，thenthedesireisofcolddrink；or，ifaccompaniedbycold，thenofwarmdrink；or，ifthethirstbeexcessive，thenthedrinkwhichisdesiredwillbeexcessive；or，ifnotgreat，thequantityofdrinkwillalsobesmall：butthirstpureandsimplewilldesiredrinkpureandsimple，whichisthenaturalsatisfactionofthirst，asfoodisofhunger？
Yes，hesaid；thesimpledesireis，asyousay，ineverycaseofthesimpleobject，andthequalifieddesireofthequalifiedobject。
Buthereaconfusionmayarise；andIshouldwishtoguardagainstanopponentstartingupandsayingthatnomandesiresdrinkonly，butgooddrink，orfoodonly，butgoodfood；forgoodistheuniversalobjectofdesire，andthirstbeingadesire，willnecessarilybethirstaftergooddrink；andthesameistrueofeveryotherdesire。
Yes，hereplied，theopponentmighthavesomethingtosay。
NeverthelessIshouldstillmaintain，thatofrelativessomehaveaqualityattachedtoeithertermoftherelation；othersaresimpleandhavetheircorrelativessimple。
Idonotknowwhatyoumean。
Well，youknowofcoursethatthegreaterisrelativetotheless？
Certainly。
Andthemuchgreatertothemuchless？
Yes。
Andthesometimegreatertothesometimeless，andthegreaterthatistobetothelessthatistobe？
Certainly，hesaid。
Andsoofmoreandless，andofothercorrelativeterms，suchasthedoubleandthehalf，oragain，theheavierandthelighter，theswifterandtheslower；andofhotandcold，andofanyotherrelatives；——isnotthistrueofallofthem？
Yes。
Anddoesnotthesameprincipleholdinthesciences？Theobjectofscienceisknowledge（assumingthattobethetruedefinition），buttheobjectofaparticularscienceisaparticularkindofknowledge；Imean，forexample，thatthescienceofhouse—buildingisakindofknowledgewhichisdefinedanddistinguishedfromotherkindsandisthereforetermedarchitecture。
Certainly。
Becauseithasaparticularqualitywhichnootherhas？
Yes。
Andithasthisparticularqualitybecauseithasanobjectofaparticularkind；andthisistrueoftheotherartsandsciences？
Yes。
Now，then，ifIhavemademyselfclear，youwillunderstandmyoriginalmeaninginwhatIsaidaboutrelatives。Mymeaningwas，thatifonetermofarelationistakenalone，theotheristakenalone；ifonetermisqualified，theotherisalsoqualified。Idonotmeantosaythatrelativesmaynotbedisparate，orthatthescienceofhealthishealthy，orofdiseasenecessarilydiseased，orthatthesciencesofgoodandevilarethereforegoodandevil；butonlythat，whenthetermscienceisnolongerusedabsolutely，buthasaqualifiedobjectwhichinthiscaseisthenatureofhealthanddisease，itbecomesdefined，andishencecallednotmerelyscience，butthescienceofmedicine。
Iquiteunderstand，andIthinkasyoudo。
Wouldyounotsaythatthirstisoneoftheseessentiallyrelativeterms，havingclearlyarelation——
Yes，thirstisrelativetodrink。
Andacertainkindofthirstisrelativetoacertainkindofdrink；
butthirsttakenaloneisneitherofmuchnorlittle，norofgoodnorbad，norofanyparticularkindofdrink，butofdrinkonly？
Certainly。
Thenthesoulofthethirstyone，insofarasheisthirsty，desiresonlydrink；forthisheyearnsandtriestoobtainit？
Thatisplain。
Andifyousupposesomethingwhichpullsathirstysoulawayfromdrink，thatmustbedifferentfromthethirstyprinciplewhichdrawshimlikeabeasttodrink；for，asweweresaying，thesamethingcannotatthesametimewiththesamepartofitselfactincontrarywaysaboutthesame。
Impossible。
Nomorethanyoucansaythatthehandsofthearcherpushandpullthebowatthesametime，butwhatyousayisthatonehandpushesandtheotherpulls。
Exactlyso，hereplied。
Andmightamanbethirsty，andyetunwillingtodrink？
Yes，hesaid，itconstantlyhappens。
Andinsuchacasewhatisonetosay？Wouldyounotsaythattherewassomethinginthesoulbiddingamantodrink，andsomethingelseforbiddinghim，whichisotherandstrongerthantheprinciplewhichbidshim？
Ishouldsayso。
Andtheforbiddingprincipleisderivedfromreason，andthatwhichbidsandattractsproceedsfrompassionanddisease？
Clearly。
Thenwemayfairlyassumethattheyaretwo，andthattheydifferfromoneanother；theonewithwhichmanreasons，wemaycalltherationalprincipleofthesoul，theother，withwhichhelovesandhungersandthirstsandfeelstheflutteringsofanyotherdesire，maybetermedtheirrationalorappetitive，theallyofsundrypleasuresandsatisfactions？
Yes，hesaid，wemayfairlyassumethemtobedifferent。
Thenletusfinallydeterminethattherearetwoprinciplesexistinginthesoul。Andwhatofpassion，orspirit？Isitathird，orakintooneofthepreceding？
Ishouldbeinclinedtosay——akintodesire。
Well，Isaid，thereisastorywhichIremembertohaveheard，andinwhichIputfaith。Thestoryis，thatLeontius，thesonofAglaion，cominguponedayfromthePiraeus，underthenorthwallontheoutside，observedsomedeadbodieslyingonthegroundattheplaceofexecution。Hefeltadesiretoseethem，andalsoadreadandabhorrenceofthem；foratimehestruggledandcoveredhiseyes，butatlengththedesiregotthebetterofhim；andforcingthemopen，heranuptothedeadbodies，saying，Look，yewretches，takeyourfillofthefairsight。
Ihaveheardthestorymyself，hesaid。
Themoralofthetaleis，thatangerattimesgoestowarwithdesire，asthoughtheyweretwodistinctthings。
Yes；thatisthemeaning，hesaid。
Andaretherenotmanyothercasesinwhichweobservethatwhenaman’sdesiresviolentlyprevailoverhisreason，herevileshimself，andisangryattheviolencewithinhim，andthatinthisstruggle，whichislikethestruggleoffactionsinaState，hisspiritisonthesideofhisreason；——butforthepassionateorspiritedelementtotakepartwiththedesireswhenreasonthatsheshouldnotbeopposed，isasortofthingwhichthingwhichIbelievethatyouneverobservedoccurringinyourself，nor，asIshouldimagine，inanyoneelse？
Certainlynot。
Supposethatamanthinkshehasdoneawrongtoanother，thenoblerheisthelessableishetofeelindignantatanysuffering，suchashunger，orcold，oranyotherpainwhichtheinjuredpersonmayinflictuponhim——thesehedeemstobejust，and，asIsay，hisangerrefusestobeexcitedbythem。
True，hesaid。
Butwhenhethinksthatheisthesuffererofthewrong，thenheboilsandchafes，andisonthesideofwhathebelievestobejustice；andbecausehesuffershungerorcoldorotherpainheisonlythemoredeterminedtopersevereandconquer。Hisnoblespiritwillnotbequelleduntilheeitherslaysorisslain；oruntilhehearsthevoiceoftheshepherd，thatis，reason，biddinghisdogbarknomore。
Theillustrationisperfect，hereplied；andinourState，asweweresaying，theauxiliariesweretobedogs，andtohearthevoiceoftherulers，whoaretheirshepherds。
Iperceive，Isaid，thatyouquiteunderstandme；thereis，however，afurtherpointwhichIwishyoutoconsider。
Whatpoint？
Yourememberthatpassionorspiritappearedatfirstsighttobeakindofdesire，butnowweshouldsayquitethecontrary；forintheconflictofthesoulspiritisarrayedonthesideoftherationalprinciple。
Mostassuredly。
Butafurtherquestionarises：Ispassiondifferentfromreasonalso，oronlyakindofreason；inwhichlattercase，insteadofthreeprinciplesinthesoul，therewillonlybetwo，therationalandtheconcupiscent；orrather，astheStatewascomposedofthreeclasses，traders，auxiliaries，counsellors，somaytherenotbeintheindividualsoulathirdelementwhichispassionorspirit，andwhennotcorruptedbybadeducationisthenaturalauxiliaryofreasonYes，hesaid，theremustbeathird。
Yes，Ireplied，ifpassion，whichhasalreadybeenshowntobedifferentfromdesire，turnoutalsotobedifferentfromreason。
Butthatiseasilyproved：——Wemayobserveeveninyoungchildrenthattheyarefullofspiritalmostassoonastheyareborn，whereassomeofthemneverseemtoattaintotheuseofreason，andmostofthemlateenough。
Excellent，Isaid，andyoumayseepassionequallyinbruteanimals，whichisafurtherproofofthetruthofwhatyouaresaying。AndwemayoncemoreappealtothewordsofHomer，whichhavebeenalreadyquotedbyus，Hesmotehisbreast，andthusrebukedhissoul，forinthisverseHomerhasclearlysupposedthepowerwhichreasonsaboutthebetterandworsetobedifferentfromtheunreasoningangerwhichisrebukedbyit。
Verytrue，hesaid。