YOUNG SOCRATES: No one can deny what has hastily threw out is highly important, even if we been now said.
leave the question where it is, and do not seek by the discussion of it to expose the error which pre-STRANGER: Neither, if you consider, can any one vails in this matter.
deny the other statement.
YOUNG SOCRATES: What do you mean?
YOUNG SOCRATES: What was it?
STRANGER: The idea which has to be grasped by STRANGER: We said that no great number of per-us is not easy or familiar; but we may attempt to sons, whoever they may be, can attain political express it thus:—Supposing the government of knowledge, or order a State wisely, but that the true which I have been speaking to be the only true government is to be found in a small body, or in an model, then the others must use the written laws of individual, and that other States are but imitations this—in no other way can they be saved; they will of this, as we said a little while ago, some for the have to do what is now generally approved, although better and some for the worse.
not the best thing in the world.
YOUNG SOCRATES: What do you mean? I can-YOUNG SOCRATES: What is this?
not have understood your previous remark about imitations.
STRANGER: No citizen should do anything contrary to the laws, and any infringement of them STRANGER: And yet the mere suggestion which I should be punished with death and the most ex-117
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treme penalties; and this is very right and good when reflect that he suffers strange things at the hands of regarded as the second best thing, if you set aside both of them; the physician saves any whom he the first, of which I was just now speaking. Shall I wishes to save, and any whom he wishes to mal-explain the nature of what I call the second best?
treat he maltreats—cutting or burning them; and at the same time requiring them to bring him pay-YOUNG SOCRATES: By all means.
ments, which are a sort of tribute, of which little or nothing is spent upon the sick man, and the greater STRANGER: I must again have recourse to my part is consumed by him and his domestics; and favourite images; through them, and them alone, the finale is that he receives money from the rela-can I describe kings and rulers.
tions of the sick man or from some enemy of his, and puts him out of the way. And the pilots of ships YOUNG SOCRATES: What images?
are guilty of numberless evil deeds of the same kind; they intentionally play false and leave you ashore STRANGER: The noble pilot and the wise physi-when the hour of sailing arrives; or they cause mis-cian, who ‘is worth many another man’—in the si-haps at sea and cast away their freight; and are guilty militude of these let us endeavour to discover some of other rogueries. Now suppose that we, bearing image of the king.
all this in mind, were to determine, after consideration, that neither of these arts shall any longer be YOUNG SOCRATES: What sort of an image?
allowed to exercise absolute control either over freemen or over slaves, but that we will summon an STRANGER: Well, such as this:—Every man will assembly either of all the people, or of the rich only, 118
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that anybody who likes, whatever may be his call-STRANGER: Suppose further, that the pilots and ing, or even if he have no calling, may offer an opin-physicians are appointed annually, either out of the ion either about seamanship or about diseases—
rich, or out of the whole people, and that they are whether as to the manner in which physic or surgi-elected by lot; and that after their election they cal instruments are to be applied to the patient, or navigate vessels and heal the sick according to the again about the vessels and the nautical implements written rules.
which are required in navigation, and how to meet the dangers of winds and waves which are inciden-YOUNG SOCRATES: Worse and worse.
tal to the voyage, how to behave when encounter-ing pirates, and what is to be done with the old-STRANGER: But hear what follows:—When the fashioned galleys, if they have to fight with others year of office has expired, the pilot or physician has of a similar build—and that, whatever shall be de-to come before a court of review, in which the judges creed by the multitude on these points, upon the are either selected from the wealthy classes or cho-advice of persons skilled or unskilled, shall be writ-sen by lot out of the whole people; and anybody ten down on triangular tablets and columns, or en-who pleases may be their accuser, and may lay to acted although unwritten to be national customs; their charge, that during the past year they have and that in all future time vessels shall be navigated not navigated their vessels or healed their patients and remedies administered to the patient after this according to the letter of the law and the ancient fashion.
customs of their ancestors; and if either of them is condemned, some of the judges must fix what he is YOUNG SOCRATES: What a strange notion!
to suffer or pay.