第18章
Thenyouwouldinferthatopinionisintermediate？
Noquestion。
Butwerewenotsayingbefore，thatifanythingappearedtobeofasortwhichisandisnotatthesametime，thatsortofthingwouldappearalsotolieintheintervalbetweenpurebeingandabsolutenot—being；andthatthecorrespondingfacultyisneitherknowledgenorignorance，butwillbefoundintheintervalbetweenthem？
True。
Andinthatintervaltherehasnowbeendiscoveredsomethingwhichwecallopinion？
Therehas。
Thenwhatremainstobediscoveredistheobjectwhichpartakesequallyofthenatureofbeingandnot—being，andcannotrightlybetermedeither，pureandsimple；thisunknownterm，whendiscovered，wemaytrulycallthesubjectofopinion，andassigneachtoitsproperfaculty，—theextremestothefacultiesoftheextremesandthemeantothefacultyofthemean。
True。
Thisbeingpremised，Iwouldaskthegentlemanwhoisofopinionthatthereisnoabsoluteorunchangeableideaofbeauty——inwhoseopinionthebeautifulisthemanifold——he，Isay，yourloverofbeautifulsights，whocannotbeartobetoldthatthebeautifulisone，andthejustisone，orthatanythingisone——tohimIwouldappeal，saying，Willyoubesoverykind，sir，astotelluswhether，ofallthesebeautifulthings，thereisonewhichwillnotbefoundugly；orofthejust，whichwillnotbefoundunjust；oroftheholy，whichwillnotalsobeunholy？
No，hereplied；thebeautifulwillinsomepointofviewbefoundugly；andthesameistrueoftherest。
Andmaynotthemanywhicharedoublesbealsohalves？——doubles，thatis，ofonething，andhalvesofanother？
Quitetrue。
Andthingsgreatandsmall，heavyandlight，astheyaretermed，willnotbedenotedbytheseanymorethanbytheoppositenames？
True；boththeseandtheoppositenameswillalwaysattachtoallofthem。
Andcananyoneofthosemanythingswhicharecalledbyparticularnamesbesaidtobethisratherthannottobethis？
Hereplied：Theyarelikethepunningriddleswhichareaskedatfeastsorthechildren’spuzzleabouttheeunuchaimingatthebat，withwhathehithim，astheysayinthepuzzle，anduponwhatthebatwassitting。TheindividualobjectsofwhichIamspeakingarealsoariddle，andhaveadoublesense：norcanyoufixtheminyourmind，eitherasbeingornot—being，orboth，orneither。
Thenwhatwillyoudowiththem？Isaid。Cantheyhaveabetterplacethanbetweenbeingandnot—being？Fortheyareclearlynotingreaterdarknessornegationthannot—being，ormorefulloflightandexistencethanbeing。
Thatisquitetrue，hesaid。
Thusthenweseemtohavediscoveredthatthemanyideaswhichthemultitudeentertainaboutthebeautifulandaboutallotherthingsaretossingaboutinsomeregionwhichishalfwaybetweenpurebeingandpurenot—being？
Wehave。
Yes；andwehadbeforeagreedthatanythingofthiskindwhichwemightfindwastobedescribedasmatterofopinion，andnotasmatterofknowledge；beingtheintermediatefluxwhichiscaughtanddetainedbytheintermediatefaculty。
Quitetrue。
Thenthosewhoseethemanybeautiful，andwhoyetneitherseeabsolutebeauty，norcanfollowanyguidewhopointsthewaythither；whoseethemanyjust，andnotabsolutejustice，andthelike，——suchpersonsmaybesaidtohaveopinionbutnotknowledge？
Thatiscertain。
Butthosewhoseetheabsoluteandeternalandimmutablemaybesaidtoknow，andnottohaveopiniononly？
Neithercanthatbedenied。
Theonelovesandembracesthesubjectsofknowledge，theotherthoseofopinion？Thelatterarethesame，asIdaresaywillremember，wholistenedtosweetsoundsandgazeduponfaircolours，butwouldnottoleratetheexistenceofabsolutebeauty。
Yes，Iremember。
Shallwethenbeguiltyofanyimproprietyincallingthemloversofopinionratherthanloversofwisdom，andwilltheybeveryangrywithusforthusdescribingthem？
Ishalltellthemnottobeangry；nomanshouldbeangryatwhatistrue。
Butthosewholovethetruthineachthingaretobecalledloversofwisdomandnotloversofopinion。
Assuredly。
BOOKVI
SOCRATES—GLAUCON
ANDthus，Glaucon，aftertheargumenthasgoneawearyway，thetrueandthefalsephilosophershaveatlengthappearedinview。
Idonotthink，hesaid，thatthewaycouldhavebeenshortened。
Isupposenot，Isaid；andyetIbelievethatwemighthavehadabetterviewofbothofthemifthediscussioncouldhavebeenconfinedtothisonesubjectandiftherewerenotmanyotherquestionsawaitingus，whichhewhodesirestoseeinwhatrespectthelifeofthejustdiffersfromthatoftheunjustmustconsider。
Andwhatisthenextquestion？heasked。
Surely，Isaid，theonewhichfollowsnextinorder。Inasmuchasphilosophersonlyareabletograsptheeternalandunchangeable，andthosewhowanderintheregionofthemanyandvariablearenotphilosophers，ImustaskyouwhichofthetwoclassesshouldbetherulersofourState？
Andhowcanwerightlyanswerthatquestion？
WhicheverofthetwoarebestabletoguardthelawsandinstitutionsofourState——letthembeourguardians。
Verygood。
Neither，Isaid，cantherebeanyquestionthattheguardianwhoistokeepanythingshouldhaveeyesratherthannoeyes？
Therecanbenoquestionofthat。
Andarenotthosewhoareverilyandindeedwantingintheknowledgeofthetruebeingofeachthing，andwhohaveintheirsoulsnoclearpattern，andareunableaswithapainter’seyetolookattheabsolutetruthandtothatoriginaltorepair，andhavingperfectvisionoftheotherworldtoorderthelawsaboutbeauty，goodness，justiceinthis，ifnotalreadyordered，andtoguardandpreservetheorderofthem——arenotsuchpersons，Iask，simplyblind？
Truly，hereplied，theyaremuchinthatcondition。
Andshalltheybeourguardianswhenthereareotherswho，besidesbeingtheirequalsinexperienceandfallingshortoftheminnoparticularofvirtue，alsoknowtheverytruthofeachthing？
Therecanbenoreason，hesaid，forrejectingthosewhohavethisgreatestofallgreatqualities；theymustalwayshavethefirstplaceunlesstheyfailinsomeotherrespect。
Supposethen，Isaid，thatwedeterminehowfartheycanunitethisandtheotherexcellences。
Byallmeans。
Inthefirstplace，aswebeganbyobserving，thenatureofthephilosopherhastobeascertained。Wemustcometoanunderstandingabouthim，and，whenwehavedoneso，then，ifIamnotmistaken，weshallalsoacknowledgethatsuchanunionofqualitiesispossible，andthatthoseinwhomtheyareunited，andthoseonly，shouldberulersintheState。
Whatdoyoumean？
Letussupposethatphilosophicalmindsalwaysloveknowledgeofasortwhichshowsthemtheeternalnaturenotvaryingfromgenerationandcorruption。
Agreed。
Andfurther，Isaid，letusagreethattheyareloversofalltruebeing；thereisnopartwhethergreaterorless，ormoreorlesshonourable，whichtheyarewillingtorenounce；aswesaidbeforeoftheloverandthemanofambition。
True。
Andiftheyaretobewhatweweredescribing，istherenotanotherqualitywhichtheyshouldalsopossess？
Whatquality？
Truthfulness：theywillneverintentionallyreceiveintotheirmindfalsehood，whichistheirdetestation，andtheywilllovethetruth。
Yes，thatmaybesafelyaffirmedofthem。
’Maybe，’myfriend，Ireplied，isnottheword；sayrather’mustbeaffirmed：’forhewhosenatureisamorousofanythingcannothelplovingallthatbelongsorisakintotheobjectofhisaffections。
Right，hesaid。
Andisthereanythingmoreakintowisdomthantruth？
Howcantherebe？
Canthesamenaturebealoverofwisdomandaloveroffalsehood？
Never。
Thetrueloveroflearningthenmustfromhisearliestyouth，asfarasinhimlies，desirealltruth？
Assuredly。
Butthenagain，asweknowbyexperience，hewhosedesiresarestronginonedirectionwillhavethemweakerinothers；theywillbelikeastreamwhichhasbeendrawnoffintoanotherchannel。
True。
Hewhosedesiresaredrawntowardsknowledgeineveryformwillbeabsorbedinthepleasuresofthesoul，andwillhardlyfeelbodilypleasure——Imean，ifhebeatruephilosopherandnotashamone。
Thatismostcertain。
Suchanoneissuretobetemperateandthereverseofcovetous；forthemotiveswhichmakeanothermandesirousofhavingandspending，havenoplaceinhischaracter。
Verytrue。
Anothercriterionofthephilosophicalnaturehasalsotobeconsidered。
Whatisthat？
Thereshouldbenosecretcornerofilliberality；nothingcanmoreantagonisticthanmeannesstoasoulwhichiseverlongingafterthewholeofthingsbothdivineandhuman。
Mosttrue，hereplied。
Thenhowcanhewhohasmagnificenceofmindandisthespectatorofalltimeandallexistence，thinkmuchofhumanlife？
Hecannot。
Orcansuchanoneaccountdeathfearful？
Noindeed。
Thenthecowardlyandmeannaturehasnopartintruephilosophy？
Certainlynot。
Oragain：canhewhoisharmoniouslyconstituted，whoisnotcovetousormean，oraboaster，oracoward—canhe，Isay，everbeunjustorhardinhisdealings？
Impossible。
Thenyouwillsoonobservewhetheramanisjustandgentle，orrudeandunsociable；thesearethesignswhichdistinguisheveninyouththephilosophicalnaturefromtheunphilosophical。
True。
Thereisanotherpointwhichshouldberemarked。
Whatpoint？
Whetherhehasorhasnotapleasureinlearning；fornoonewilllovethatwhichgiveshimpain，andinwhichaftermuchtoilhemakeslittleprogress。
Certainlynot。
Andagain，ifheisforgetfulandretainsnothingofwhathelearns，willhenotbeanemptyvessel？
Thatiscertain。
Labouringinvain，hemustendinhatinghimselfandhisfruitlessoccupation？Yes。
Thenasoulwhichforgetscannotberankedamonggenuinephilosophicnatures；wemustinsistthatthephilosophershouldhaveagoodmemory？
Certainly。
Andoncemore，theinharmoniousandunseemlynaturecanonlytendtodisproportion？
Undoubtedly。
Anddoyouconsidertruthtobeakintoproportionortodisproportion？
Toproportion。
Then，besidesotherqualities，wemusttrytofindanaturallywell—proportionedandgraciousmind，whichwillmovespontaneouslytowardsthetruebeingofeverything。
Certainly。
Well，anddonotallthesequalities，whichwehavebeenenumerating，gotogether，andaretheynot，inamanner，necessarytoasoul，whichistohaveafullandperfectparticipationofbeing？
Theyareabsolutelynecessary，hereplied。
Andmustnotthatbeablamelessstudywhichheonlycanpursuewhohasthegiftofagoodmemory，andisquicktolearn，——noble，gracious，thefriendoftruth，justice，courage，temperance，whoarehiskindred？
Thegodofjealousyhimself，hesaid，couldfindnofaultwithsuchastudy。
Andtomenlikehim，Isaid，whenperfectedbyyearsandeducation，andtotheseonlyyouwillentrusttheState。
SOCRATES—ADEIMANTUS
HereAdeimantusinterposedandsaid：Tothesestatements，Socrates，noonecanofferareply；butwhenyoutalkinthisway，astrangefeelingpassesoverthemindsofyourhearers：Theyfancythattheyareledastrayalittleateachstepintheargument，owingtotheirownwantofskillinaskingandansweringquestions；theselittlesaccumulate，andattheendofthediscussiontheyarefoundtohavesustainedamightyoverthrowandalltheirformernotionsappeartobeturnedupsidedown。Andasunskilfulplayersofdraughtsareatlastshutupbytheirmoreskilfuladversariesandhavenopiecetomove，sotheytoofindthemselvesshutupatlast；
fortheyhavenothingtosayinthisnewgameofwhichwordsarethecounters；andyetallthetimetheyareintheright。Theobservationissuggestedtomebywhatisnowoccurring。Foranyoneofusmightsay，thatalthoughinwordsheisnotabletomeetyouateachstepoftheargument，heseesasafactthatthevotariesofphilosophy，whentheycarryonthestudy，notonlyinyouthasapartofeducation，butasthepursuitoftheirmatureryears，mostofthembecomestrangemonsters，nottosayutterrogues，andthatthosewhomaybeconsideredthebestofthemaremadeuselesstotheworldbytheverystudywhichyouextol。
Well，anddoyouthinkthatthosewhosaysoarewrong？
Icannottell，hereplied；butIshouldliketoknowwhatisyouropinion。
Hearmyanswer；Iamofopinionthattheyarequiteright。
Thenhowcanyoubejustifiedinsayingthatcitieswillnotceasefromeviluntilphilosophersruleinthem，whenphilosophersareacknowledgedbyustobeofnousetothem？
Youaskaquestion，Isaid，towhichareplycanonlybegiveninaparable。
Yes，Socrates；andthatisawayofspeakingtowhichyouarenotatallaccustomed，Isuppose。
Iperceive，Isaid，thatyouarevastlyamusedathavingplungedmeintosuchahopelessdiscussion；butnowheartheparable，andthenyouwillbestillmoreamusedatthemeagrenessofmyimagination：forthemannerinwhichthebestmenaretreatedintheirownStatesissogrievousthatnosinglethingonearthiscomparabletoit；andtherefore，ifIamtopleadtheircause，Imusthaverecoursetofiction，andputtogetherafiguremadeupofmanythings，likethefabulousunionsofgoatsandstagswhicharefoundinpictures。
Imaginethenafleetorashipinwhichthereisacaptainwhoistallerandstrongerthananyofthecrew，butheisalittledeafandhasasimilarinfirmityinsight，andhisknowledgeofnavigationisnotmuchbetter。Thesailorsarequarrellingwithoneanotheraboutthesteering——everyoneisofopinionthathehasarighttosteer，thoughhehasneverlearnedtheartofnavigationandcannottellwhotaughthimorwhenhelearned，andwillfurtherassertthatitcannotbetaught，andtheyarereadytocutinpiecesanyonewhosaysthecontrary。Theythrongaboutthecaptain，beggingandprayinghimtocommitthehelmtothem；andifatanytimetheydonotprevail，butothersarepreferredtothem，theykilltheothersorthrowthemoverboard，andhavingfirstchainedupthenoblecaptain’ssenseswithdrinkorsomenarcoticdrug，theymutinyandtakepossessionoftheshipandmakefreewiththestores；thus，eatinganddrinking，theyproceedontheirvoyageinsuchamannerasmightbeexpectedofthem。Himwhoistheirpartisanandcleverlyaidsthemintheirplotforgettingtheshipoutofthecaptain’shandsintotheirownwhetherbyforceorpersuasion，theycomplimentwiththenameofsailor，pilot，ableseaman，andabusetheothersortofman，whomtheycallagood—for—nothing；butthatthetruepilotmustpayattentiontotheyearandseasonsandskyandstarsandwinds，andwhateverelsebelongstohisart，ifheintendstobereallyqualifiedforthecommandofaship，andthathemustandwillbethesteerer，whetherotherpeoplelikeornot—thepossibilityofthisunionofauthoritywiththesteerer’sarthasneverseriouslyenteredintotheirthoughtsorbeenmadepartoftheircalling。Nowinvesselswhichareinastateofmutinyandbysailorswhoaremutineers，howwillthetruepilotberegarded？Willhenotbecalledbythemaprater，astar—gazer，agood—for—nothing？
Ofcourse，saidAdeimantus。
Thenyouwillhardlyneed，Isaid，toheartheinterpretationofthefigure，whichdescribesthetruephilosopherinhisrelationtotheState；foryouunderstandalready。
Certainly。
Thensupposeyounowtakethisparabletothegentlemanwhoissurprisedatfindingthatphilosophershavenohonourintheircities；
explainittohimandtrytoconvincehimthattheirhavinghonourwouldbefarmoreextraordinary。
Iwill。
Saytohim，that，indeemingthebestvotariesofphilosophytobeuselesstotherestoftheworld，heisright；butalsotellhimtoattributetheiruselessnesstothefaultofthosewhowillnotusethem，andnottothemselves。Thepilotshouldnothumblybegthesailorstobecommandedbyhim——thatisnottheorderofnature；
neitherare’thewisetogotothedoorsoftherich’——theingeniousauthorofthissayingtoldalie——butthetruthis，that，whenamanisill，whetherheberichorpoor，tothephysicianhemustgo，andhewhowantstobegoverned，tohimwhoisabletogovern。Therulerwhoisgoodforanythingoughtnottobeghissubjectstoberuledbyhim；althoughthepresentgovernorsofmankindareofadifferentstamp；theymaybejustlycomparedtothemutinoussailors，andthetruehelmsmentothosewhoarecalledbythemgood—for—nothingsandstar—gazers。
Preciselyso，hesaid。
Forthesereasons，andamongmenlikethese，philosophy，thenoblestpursuitofall，isnotlikelytobemuchesteemedbythoseoftheoppositefaction；notthatthegreatestandmostlastinginjuryisdonetoherbyheropponents，butbyherownprofessingfollowers，thesameofwhomyousupposetheaccusertosay，thatthegreaternumberofthemarearrantrogues，andthebestareuseless；inwhichopinionIagreed。
Yes。
Andthereasonwhythegoodareuselesshasnowbeenexplained？
True。
Thenshallweproceedtoshowthatthecorruptionofthemajorityisalsounavoidable，andthatthisisnottobelaidtothechargeofphilosophyanymorethantheother？
Byallmeans。
Andletusaskandanswerinturn，firstgoingbacktothedescriptionofthegentleandnoblenature。Truth，asyouwillremember，washisleader，whomhefollowedalwaysandinallthings；
failinginthis，hewasanimpostor，andhadnopartorlotintruephilosophy。
Yes，thatwassaid。
Well，andisnotthisonequality，tomentionnoothers，greatlyatvariancewithpresentnotionsofhim？
Certainly，hesaid。
Andhavewenotarighttosayinhisdefence，thatthetrueloverofknowledgeisalwaysstrivingafterbeing——thatishisnature；hewillnotrestinthemultiplicityofindividualswhichisanappearanceonly，butwillgoon——thekeenedgewillnotbeblunted，northeforceofhisdesireabateuntilhehaveattainedtheknowledgeofthetruenatureofeveryessencebyasympatheticandkindredpowerinthesoul，andbythatpowerdrawingnearandminglingandbecomingincorporatewithverybeing，havingbegottenmindandtruth，hewillhaveknowledgeandwillliveandgrowtruly，andthen，andnottillthen，willheceasefromhistravail。
Nothing，hesaid，canbemorejustthansuchadescriptionofhim。
Andwilltheloveofaliebeanypartofaphilosopher’snature？
Willhenotutterlyhatealie？
Hewill。
Andwhentruthisthecaptain，wecannotsuspectanyevilofthebandwhichheleads？
Impossible。
Justiceandhealthofmindwillbeofthecompany，andtemperancewillfollowafter？
True，hereplied。
NeitheristhereanyreasonwhyIshouldagainsetinarraythephilosopher’svirtues，asyouwilldoubtlessrememberthatcourage，magnificence，apprehension，memory，werehisnaturalgifts。Andyouobjectedthat，althoughnoonecoulddenywhatIthensaid，still，ifyouleavewordsandlookatfacts，thepersonswhoarethusdescribedaresomeofthemmanifestlyuseless，andthegreaternumberutterlydepraved；wewerethenledtoenquireintothegroundsoftheseaccusations，andhavenowarrivedatthepointofaskingwhyarethemajoritybad，whichquestionofnecessitybroughtusbacktotheexaminationanddefinitionofthetruephilosopher。
Exactly。
Andwehavenexttoconsidertheofthephilosophicnature，whysomanyarespoiledandsofewescapespoiling——Iamspeakingofthosewhoweresaidtobeuselessbutnotwicked——and，whenwehavedonewiththem，wewillspeakoftheimitatorsofphilosophy，whatmannerofmenaretheywhoaspireafteraprofessionwhichisabovethemandofwhichtheyareunworthy，andthen，bytheirmanifoldinconsistencies，bringuponphilosophy，anduponallphilosophers，thatuniversalreprobationofwhichwespeak。
Whatarethesecorruptions？hesaid。
IwillseeifIcanexplainthemtoyou。Everyonewilladmitthatanaturehavinginperfectionallthequalitieswhichwerequiredinaphilosopher，isarareplantwhichisseldomseenamongmen。
Rareindeed。
Andwhatnumberlessandpowerfulcausestendtodestroytheserarenatures！
Whatcauses？
Inthefirstplacetherearetheirownvirtues，theircourage，temperance，andtherestofthem，everyoneofwhichpraiseworthyqualities（andthisisamostsingularcircumstance）destroysanddistractsfromphilosophythesoulwhichisthepossessorofthem。
Thatisverysingular，hereplied。
Thentherearealltheordinarygoodsoflife——beauty，wealth，strength，rank，andgreatconnectionsintheState——youunderstandthesortofthings——thesealsohaveacorruptinganddistractingeffect。
Iunderstand；butIshouldliketoknowmorepreciselywhatyoumeanaboutthem。
Graspthetruthasawhole，Isaid，andintherightway；youwillthenhavenodifficultyinapprehendingtheprecedingremarks，andtheywillnolongerappearstrangetoyou。