Andonefeaturetheywillerase，andanothertheywillputin，theyhavemadethewaysofmen，asfaraspossible，agreeabletothewaysofGod？
Indeed，hesaid，innowaycouldtheymakeafairerpicture。
Andnow，Isaid，arewebeginningtopersuadethosewhomyoudescribedasrushingatuswithmightandmain，thatthepainterofconstitutionsissuchanoneaswearepraising；atwhomtheyweresoveryindignantbecausetohishandswecommittedtheState；andaretheygrowingalittlecalmeratwhattheyhavejustheard？
Muchcalmer，ifthereisanysenseinthem。
Why，wherecantheystillfindanygroundforobjection？Willtheydoubtthatthephilosopherisaloveroftruthandbeing？
Theywouldnotbesounreasonable。
Orthathisnature，beingsuchaswehavedelineated，isakintothehighestgood？
Neithercantheydoubtthis。
Butagain，willtheytellusthatsuchanature，placedunderfavourablecircumstances，willnotbeperfectlygoodandwiseifanyeverwas？Orwilltheypreferthosewhomwehaverejected？
Surelynot。
Thenwilltheystillbeangryatoursaying，that，untilphilosophersbearrule，Statesandindividualswillhavenorestfromevil，norwillthisourimaginaryStateeverberealised？
Ithinkthattheywillbelessangry。
Shallweassumethattheyarenotonlylessangrybutquitegentle，andthattheyhavebeenconvertedandforveryshame，iffornootherreason，cannotrefusetocometoterms？
Byallmeans，hesaid。
Thenletussupposethatthereconciliationhasbeeneffected。
Willanyonedenytheotherpoint，thattheremaybesonsofkingsorprinceswhoarebynaturephilosophers？
Surelynoman，hesaid。
Andwhentheyhavecomeintobeingwillanyonesaythattheymustofnecessitybedestroyed；thattheycanhardlybesavedisnotdeniedevenbyus；butthatinthewholecourseofagesnosingleoneofthemcanescape——whowillventuretoaffirmthis？
Whoindeed！
But，saidI，oneisenough；lettherebeonemanwhohasacityobedienttohiswill，andhemightbringintoexistencetheidealpolityaboutwhichtheworldissoincredulous。
Yes，oneisenough。
Therulermayimposethelawsandinstitutionswhichwehavebeendescribing，andthecitizensmaypossiblybewillingtoobeythem？
Certainly。
Andthatothersshouldapproveofwhatweapprove，isnomiracleorimpossibility？
Ithinknot。
Butwehavesufficientlyshown，inwhathaspreceded，thatallthis，ifonlypossible，isassuredlyforthebest。
Wehave。
Andnowwesaynotonlythatourlaws，iftheycouldbeenacted，wouldbeforthebest，butalsothattheenactmentofthem，thoughdifficult，isnotimpossible。
Verygood。
Andsowithpainandtoilwehavereachedtheendofonesubject，butmoreremainstobediscussed；——howandbywhatstudiesandpursuitswillthesavioursoftheconstitutionbecreated，andatwhatagesaretheytoapplythemselvestotheirseveralstudies？
Certainly。
Iomittedthetroublesomebusinessofthepossessionofwomen，andtheprocreationofchildren，andtheappointmentoftherulers，becauseIknewthattheperfectStatewouldbeeyedwithjealousyandwasdifficultofattainment；butthatpieceofclevernesswasnotofmuchservicetome，forIhadtodiscussthemallthesame。Thewomenandchildrenarenowdisposedof，buttheotherquestionoftherulersmustbeinvestigatedfromtheverybeginning。Weweresaying，asyouwillremember，thattheyweretobeloversoftheircountry，triedbythetestofpleasuresandpains，andneitherinhardships，norindangers，noratanyothercriticalmomentweretolosetheirpatriotism——hewastoberejectedwhofailed，buthewhoalwayscameforthpure，likegoldtriedintherefiner’sfire，wastobemadearuler，andtoreceivehonoursandrewardsinlifeandafterdeath。Thiswasthesortofthingwhichwasbeingsaid，andthentheargumentturnedasideandveiledherface；notlikingtostirthequestionwhichhasnowarisen。
Iperfectlyremember，hesaid。
Yes，myfriend，Isaid，andIthenshrankfromhazardingtheboldword；butnowletmedaretosay——thattheperfectguardianmustbeaphilosopher。
Yes，hesaid，letthatbeaffirmed。
Anddonotsupposethattherewillbemanyofthem；forthegiftswhichweredeemedbyustobeessentialrarelygrowtogether；theyaremostlyfoundinshredsandpatches。
Whatdoyoumean？hesaid。
Youareaware，Ireplied，thatquickintelligence，memory，sagacity，cleverness，andsimilarqualities，donotoftengrowtogether，andthatpersonswhopossessthemandareatthesametimehigh—spiritedandmagnanimousarenotsoconstitutedbynatureastoliveorderlyandinapeacefulandsettledmanner；theyaredrivenanywaybytheirimpulses，andallsolidprinciplegoesoutofthem。
Verytrue，hesaid。
Ontheotherhand，thosesteadfastnatureswhichcanbetterbedependedupon，whichinabattleareimpregnabletofearandimmovable，areequallyimmovablewhenthereisanythingtobelearned；
theyarealwaysinatorpidstate，andareapttoyawnandgotosleepoveranyintellectualtoil。
Quitetrue。
Andyetweweresayingthatbothqualitieswerenecessaryinthosetowhomthehighereducationistobeimparted，andwhoaretoshareinanyofficeorcommand。
Certainly，hesaid。
Andwilltheybeaclasswhichisrarelyfound？
Yes，indeed。
Thentheaspirantmustnotonlybetestedinthoselaboursanddangersandpleasureswhichwementionedbefore，butthereisanotherkindofprobationwhichwedidnotmention——hemustbeexercisedalsoinmanykindsofknowledge，toseewhetherthesoulwillbeabletoendurethehighestofall，willfaintunderthem，asinanyotherstudiesandexercises。
Yes，hesaid，youarequiterightintestinghim。Butwhatdoyoumeanbythehighestofallknowledge？
Youmayremember，Isaid，thatwedividedthesoulintothreeparts；
anddistinguishedtheseveralnaturesofjustice，temperance，courage，andwisdom？
Indeed，hesaid，ifIhadforgotten，Ishouldnotdeservetohearmore。
Anddoyourememberthewordofcautionwhichprecededthediscussionofthem？
Towhatdoyourefer？
Weweresaying，ifIamnotmistaken，thathewhowantedtoseethemintheirperfectbeautymusttakealongerandmorecircuitousway，attheendofwhichtheywouldappear；butthatwecouldaddonapopularexpositionofthemonalevelwiththediscussionwhichhadpreceded。Andyourepliedthatsuchanexpositionwouldbeenoughforyou，andsotheenquirywascontinuedinwhattomeseemedtobeaveryinaccuratemanner；whetheryouweresatisfiedornot，itisforyoutosay。
Yes，hesaid，Ithoughtandtheothersthoughtthatyougaveusafairmeasureoftruth。
But，myfriend，Isaid，ameasureofsuchthingsWhichinanydegreefallsshortofthewholetruthisnotfairmeasure；fornothingimperfectisthemeasureofanything，althoughpersonsaretooapttobecontentedandthinkthattheyneedsearchnofurther。
Notanuncommoncasewhenpeopleareindolent。
Yes，Isaid；andtherecannotbeanyworsefaultinaguardianoftheStateandofthelaws。
True。
Theguardianthen，Isaid，mustberequiredtotakethelongercircuit，andtollatlearningaswellasatgymnastics，orhewillneverreachthehighestknowledgeofallwhich，aswewerejustnowsaying，ishispropercalling。
What，hesaid，isthereaknowledgestillhigherthanthis——higherthanjusticeandtheothervirtues？
Yes，Isaid，thereis。Andofthevirtuestoowemustbeholdnottheoutlinemerely，asatpresent——nothingshortofthemostfinishedpictureshouldsatisfyus。Whenlittlethingsareelaboratedwithaninfinityofpains，inorderthattheymayappearintheirfullbeautyandutmostclearness，howridiculousthatweshouldnotthinkthehighesttruthsworthyofattainingthehighestaccuracy！
Arightnoblethought；butdoyousupposethatweshallrefrainfromaskingyouwhatisthishighestknowledge？
Nay，Isaid，askifyouwill；butIamcertainthatyouhaveheardtheanswermanytimes，andnowyoueitherdonotunderstandmeor，asIratherthink，youaredisposedtobetroublesome；foryouhaveofbeentoldthattheideaofgoodisthehighestknowledge，andthatallotherthingsbecomeusefulandadvantageousonlybytheiruseofthis。
YoucanhardlybeignorantthatofthisIwasabouttospeak，concerningwhich，asyouhaveoftenheardmesay，weknowsolittle；
and，withoutwhich，anyotherknowledgeorpossessionofanykindwillprofitusnothing。Doyouthinkthatthepossessionofallotherthingsisofanyvalueifwedonotpossessthegood？ortheknowledgeofallotherthingsifwehavenoknowledgeofbeautyandgoodness？
Assuredlynot。
Youarefurtherawarethatmostpeopleaffirmpleasuretobethegood，butthefinersortofwitssayitisknowledgeYes。
Andyouareawaretoothatthelattercannotexplainwhattheymeanbyknowledge，butareobligedafteralltosayknowledgeofthegood？
Howridiculous！
Yes，Isaid，thattheyshouldbeginbyreproachinguswithourignoranceofthegood，andthenpresumeourknowledgeofit——forthegoodtheydefinetobeknowledgeofthegood，justasifweunderstoodthemwhentheyusetheterm’good’——thisisofcourseridiculous。
Mosttrue，hesaid。
Andthosewhomakepleasuretheirgoodareinequalperplexity；
fortheyarecompelledtoadmitthattherearebadpleasuresaswellasgood。
Certainly。
Andthereforetoacknowledgethatbadandgoodarethesame？
True。
Therecanbenodoubtaboutthenumerousdifficultiesinwhichthisquestionisinvolved。
Therecanbenone。
Further，dowenotseethatmanyarewillingtodoortohaveortoseemtobewhatisjustandhonourablewithoutthereality；butnooneissatisfiedwiththeappearanceofgood——therealityiswhattheyseek；inthecaseofthegood，appearanceisdespisedbyeveryone。
Verytrue，hesaid。
Ofthisthen，whicheverysoulofmanpursuesandmakestheendofallhisactions，havingapresentimentthatthereissuchanend，andyethesitatingbecauseneitherknowingthenaturenorhavingthesameassuranceofthisasofotherthings，andthereforelosingwhatevergoodthereisinotherthings，——ofaprinciplesuchandsogreatasthisoughtthebestmeninourState，towhomeverythingisentrusted，tobeinthedarknessofignorance？
Certainlynot，hesaid。
Iamsure，Isaid，thathewhodoesnotknownowthebeautifulandthejustarelikewisegoodwillbebutasorryguardianofthem；andI
suspectthatnoonewhoisignorantofthegoodwillhaveatrueknowledgeofthem。
That，hesaid，isashrewdsuspicionofyours。
AndifweonlyhaveaguardianwhohasthisknowledgeourStatewillbeperfectlyordered？
Ofcourse，hereplied；butIwishthatyouwouldtellmewhetheryouconceivethissupremeprincipleofthegoodtobeknowledgeorpleasure，ordifferentfromeither。
Aye，Isaid，Iknewallalongthatafastidiousgentlemanlikeyouwouldnotbecontentedwiththethoughtsofotherpeopleaboutthesematters。
True，Socrates；butImustsaythatonewholikeyouhaspassedalifetimeinthestudyofphilosophyshouldnotbealwaysrepeatingtheopinionsofothers，andnevertellinghisown。
Well，buthasanyonearighttosaypositivelywhathedoesnotknow？
Not，hesaid，withtheassuranceofpositivecertainty；hehasnorighttodothat：buthemaysaywhathethinks，asamatterofopinion。
Anddoyounotknow，Isaid，thatallmereopinionsarebad，andthebestofthemblind？Youwouldnotdenythatthosewhohaveanytruenotionwithoutintelligenceareonlylikeblindmenwhofeeltheirwayalongtheroad？
Verytrue。
Anddoyouwishtobeholdwhatisblindandcrookedandbase，whenotherswilltellyouofbrightnessandbeauty？
GLAUCON—SOCRATES
Still，Imustimploreyou，Socrates，saidGlaucon，nottoturnawayjustasyouarereachingthegoal；ifyouwillonlygivesuchanexplanationofthegoodasyouhavealreadygivenofjusticeandtemperanceandtheothervirtues，weshallbesatisfied。
Yes，myfriend，andIshallbeatleastequallysatisfied，butI
cannothelpfearingthatIshallfall，andthatmyindiscreetzealwillbringridiculeuponme。No，sweetsirs，letusnotatpresentaskwhatistheactualnatureofthegood，fortoreachwhatisnowinmythoughtswouldbeanefforttoogreatforme。Butofthechildofthegoodwhoislikesthim，Iwouldfainspeak，ifIcouldbesurethatyouwishedtohear——otherwise，not。
Byallmeans，hesaid，tellusaboutthechild，andyoushallremaininourdebtfortheaccountoftheparent。
Idoindeedwish，Ireplied，thatIcouldpay，andyoureceive，theaccountoftheparent，andnot，asnow，oftheoffspringonly；
take，however，thislatterbywayofinterest，andatthesametimehaveacarethatidonotrenderafalseaccount，althoughIhavenointentionofdeceivingyou。
Yes，wewilltakeallthecarethatwecan：proceed。
Yes，Isaid，butImustfirstcometoanunderstandingwithyou，andremindyouofwhatIhavementionedinthecourseofthisdiscussion，andatmanyothertimes。
What？
Theoldstory，thatthereisamanybeautifulandamanygood，andsoofotherthingswhichwedescribeanddefine；toallofthem’many’
isapplied。
True，hesaid。
Andthereisanabsolutebeautyandanabsolutegood，andofotherthingstowhichtheterm’many’isappliedthereisanabsolute；fortheymaybebroughtunderasingleidea，whichiscalledtheessenceofeach。
Verytrue。
Themany，aswesay，areseenbutnotknown，andtheideasareknownbutnotseen。
Exactly。
Andwhatistheorganwithwhichweseethevisiblethings？
Thesight，hesaid。
Andwiththehearing，Isaid，wehear，andwiththeothersensesperceivetheotherobjectsofsense？
True。
Buthaveyouremarkedthatsightisbyfarthemostcostlyandcomplexpieceofworkmanshipwhichtheartificerofthesensesevercontrived？
No，Ineverhave，hesaid。
Thenreflect；hastheearorvoiceneedofanythirdoradditionalnatureinorderthattheonemaybeabletohearandtheothertobeheard？
Nothingofthesort。
No，indeed，Ireplied；andthesameistrueofmost，ifnotall，theothersenses——youwouldnotsaythatanyofthemrequiressuchanaddition？
Certainlynot。
Butyouseethatwithouttheadditionofsomeothernaturethereisnoseeingorbeingseen？
Howdoyoumean？
Sightbeing，asIconceive，intheeyes，andhewhohaseyeswantingtosee；colourbeingalsopresentinthem，stillunlesstherebeathirdnaturespeciallyadaptedtothepurpose，theowneroftheeyeswillseenothingandthecolourswillbeinvisible。
Ofwhatnatureareyouspeaking？
Ofthatwhichyoutermlight，Ireplied。
True，hesaid。
Noble，then，isthebondwhichlinkstogethersightandvisibility，andgreatbeyondotherbondsbynosmalldifferenceofnature；forlightistheirbond，andlightisnoignoblething？
Nay，hesaid，thereverseofignoble。
Andwhich，Isaid，ofthegodsinheavenwouldyousaywasthelordofthiselement？Whoseisthatlightwhichmakestheeyetoseeperfectlyandthevisibletoappear？
Youmeanthesun，asyouandallmankindsay。
Maynottherelationofsighttothisdeitybedescribedasfollows？
How？
Neithersightnortheeyeinwhichsightresidesisthesun？
No。
Yetofalltheorgansofsensetheeyeisthemostlikethesun？
Byfarthemostlike。
Andthepowerwhichtheeyepossessesisasortofeffluencewhichisdispensedfromthesun？
Exactly。
Thenthesunisnotsight，buttheauthorofsightwhoisrecognisedbysight。
True，hesaid。
AndthisishewhomIcallthechildofthegood，whomthegoodbegatinhisownlikeness，tobeinthevisibleworld，inrelationtosightandthethingsofsight，whatthegoodisintheintellectualworldinrelationtomindandthethingsofmind。
Willyoubealittlemoreexplicit？hesaid。
Why，youknow，Isaid，thattheeyes，whenapersondirectsthemtowardsobjectsonwhichthelightofdayisnolongershining，butthemoonandstarsonly，seedimly，andarenearlyblind；theyseemtohavenoclearnessofvisioninthem？
Verytrue。
Butwhentheyaredirectedtowardsobjectsonwhichthesunshines，theyseeclearlyandthereissightinthem？
Certainly。
Andthesoulisliketheeye：whenrestinguponthatonwhichtruthandbeingshine，thesoulperceivesandunderstandsandisradiantwithintelligence；butwhenturnedtowardsthetwilightofbecomingandperishing，thenshehasopiniononly，andgoesblinkingabout，andisfirstofoneopinionandthenofanother，andseemstohavenointelligence？
Justso。
Now，thatwhichimpartstruthtotheknownandthepowerofknowingtotheknoweriswhatIwouldhaveyoutermtheideaofgood，andthisyouwilldeemtobethecauseofscience，andoftruthinsofarasthelatterbecomesthesubjectofknowledge；
beautifultoo，asarebothtruthandknowledge，youwillberightinesteemingthisothernatureasmorebeautifulthaneither；and，asinthepreviousinstance，lightandsightmaybetrulysaidtobelikethesun，andyetnottobethesun，sointhisothersphere，scienceandtruthmaybedeemedtobelikethegood，butnotthegood；thegoodhasaplaceofhonouryethigher。
Whatawonderofbeautythatmustbe，hesaid，whichistheauthorofscienceandtruth，andyetsurpassestheminbeauty；foryousurelycannotmeantosaythatpleasureisthegood？
Godforbid，Ireplied；butmayIaskyoutoconsidertheimageinanotherpointofview？
Inwhatpointofview？
Youwouldsay，wouldyounot，thatthesunisonlytheauthorofvisibilityinallvisiblethings，butofgenerationandnourishmentandgrowth，thoughhehimselfisnotgeneration？
Certainly。
Inlikemannerthegoodmaybesaidtobenotonlytheauthorofknowledgetoallthingsknown，butoftheirbeingandessence，andyetthegoodisnotessence，butfarexceedsessenceindignityandpower。
Glauconsaid，withaludicrousearnestness：Bythelightofheaven，howamazing！
Yes，Isaid，andtheexaggerationmaybesetdowntoyou；foryoumademeuttermyfancies。
Andpraycontinuetoutterthem；atanyrateletushearifthereisanythingmoretobesaidaboutthesimilitudeofthesun。
Yes，Isaid，thereisagreatdealmore。
Thenomitnothing，howeverslight。
Iwilldomybest，Isaid；butIshouldthinkthatagreatdealwillhavetobeomitted。
Youhavetoimagine，then，thattherearetworulingpowers，andthatoneofthemissetovertheintellectualworld，theotheroverthevisible。Idonotsayheaven，lestyoushouldfancythatIamplayinguponthename（’ourhanoz，orhatoz’）。MayIsupposethatyouhavethisdistinctionofthevisibleandintelligiblefixedinyourmind？
Ihave。
Nowtakealinewhichhasbeencutintotwounequalparts，anddivideeachofthemagaininthesameproportion，andsupposethetwomaindivisionstoanswer，onetothevisibleandtheothertotheintelligible，andthencomparethesubdivisionsinrespectoftheirclearnessandwantofclearness，andyouwillfindthatthefirstsectioninthesphereofthevisibleconsistsofimages。AndbyimagesImean，inthefirstplace，shadows，andinthesecondplace，reflectionsinwaterandinsolid，smoothandpolishedbodiesandthelike：Doyouunderstand？
Yes，Iunderstand。
Imagine，now，theothersection，ofwhichthisisonlytheresemblance，toincludetheanimalswhichwesee，andeverythingthatgrowsorismade。
Verygood。
Wouldyounotadmitthatboththesectionsofthisdivisionhavedifferentdegreesoftruth，andthatthecopyistotheoriginalasthesphereofopinionistothesphereofknowledge？
Mostundoubtedly。
Nextproceedtoconsiderthemannerinwhichthesphereoftheintellectualistobedivided。
Inwhatmanner？
Thus：——Therearetwosubdivisions，inthelowerorwhichthesoulusesthefiguresgivenbytheformerdivisionasimages；theenquirycanonlybehypothetical，andinsteadofgoingupwardstoaprincipledescendstotheotherend；inthehigherofthetwo，thesoulpassesoutofhypotheses，andgoesuptoaprinciplewhichisabovehypotheses，makingnouseofimagesasintheformercase，butproceedingonlyinandthroughtheideasthemselves。
Idonotquiteunderstandyourmeaning，hesaid。
ThenIwilltryagain；youwillunderstandmebetterwhenIhavemadesomepreliminaryremarks。Youareawarethatstudentsofgeometry，arithmetic，andthekindredsciencesassumetheoddandtheevenandthefiguresandthreekindsofanglesandthelikeintheirseveralbranchesofscience；thesearetheirhypotheses，whichtheyandeverybodyaresupposedtoknow，andthereforetheydonotdeigntogiveanyaccountofthemeithertothemselvesorothers；
buttheybeginwiththem，andgoonuntiltheyarriveatlast，andinaconsistentmanner，attheirconclusion？
Yes，hesaid，Iknow。