Platos Gorgias
POLUS: Most true.
POLUS: He will not.
SOCRATES: Then we do not will simply to kill a man or SOCRATES: Then I was right in saying that a man may do to exile him or to despoil him of his goods, but we will to what seems good to him in a state, and not have great power, do that which conduces to our good, and if the act is not and not do what he wills?
conducive to our good we do not will it; for we will, as you say, that which is our good, but that which is neither good POLUS: As though you, Socrates, would not like to have nor evil, or simply evil, we do not will. Why are you silent, the power of doing what seemed good to you in the state, Polus? Am I not right?
rather than not; you would not be jealous when you saw any one killing or despoiling or imprisoning whom he POLUS: You are right.
pleased, Oh, no!
SOCRATES: Hence we may infer, that if any one, whether SOCRATES: Justly or unjustly, do you mean?
he be a tyrant or a rhetorician, kills another or exiles another or deprives him of his property, under the idea that POLUS: In either case is he not equally to be envied?
the act is for his own interests when really not for his own interests, he may be said to do what seems best to him?
SOCRATES: Forbear, Polus!
POLUS: Yes.
POLUS: Why forbear?
SOCRATES: But does he do what he wills if he does what SOCRATES: Because you ought not to envy wretches who is evil? Why do you not answer?
are not to be envied, but only to pity them.
POLUS: Well, I suppose not.
POLUS: And are those of whom I spoke wretches?
SOCRATES: Then if great power is a good as you allow, SOCRATES: Yes, certainly they are.
will such a one have great power in a state?