第11章
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。