Phaedrus — Plato

p. 312Certainly. And that others should approve of what we approve, is no miracle or impossibility ? I think not. But we have sufficiently shown, in what has preceded, that all this, if only possible, is assuredly for the best. Yes, that has been proved. The conclusion is, then, that our laws are best, and, though difficult of attainment, are not wholly unattainable. Very good.

And now that this difficulty is ended another arises ; how and by what studies and pursuits will saviours of the constitution be formed, and at what ages are they to apply themselves to their several studies? — that has now to be discussed. Yes, certainly.

I omitted the troublesome business of the possession of women, and the procreation of children, and the appointment of the rulers, because I knew that the perfect State would be eyed with jealousy and was difficult of attainment ; but that piece of cleverness was not of much use to me, for I had to discuss them all the same.

And now, having done with the women and children, I must pursue the other question of the rulers, beginning at the beginning.

We were saying, as you will remember, that they were to be lovers of their country, tried amid the influences of pleasures and pains, and neither in labors, nor fears, nor any other change of circumstances were to lose their patriotism ; and he who failed in this was to be rejected, but he who always came forth pure, like gold tried in the refiners* fire, was to be made a ruler, and to receive honors and rewards in life and after death.

That was the sort of thing which was being said, and then the argument turned aside and veiled her face ; not liking to stir the question which has now arisen. I perfectly remember that, he said. Yes, my friend, I said, and I then shrank from hazarding the bold word ; but now let me dare to say, — that the perfect guardian must be a philosopher. Yes, he said, let that be proclaimed. And consider, I said, that there will not be many of them, — that is not to be expected ; for the gifts which we said 2p. 313were essential rarely grow together ; they are mostly found in shreds and patches. What do you mean? he said.

You are aware, I replied, that persons who have quick intelligence, memory, sagacity, shrewdness, and all that sort of thing, are not often of a nature which is willing at the same time to live orderly and in a peaceful and settled manner ; and this is equally true of the high-spirited and magnanimous ; they are driven any way by their impetuosity, and all their soHd principle goes out of them. That is true, he said.

On the other hand, those steadfast, immovable natures upon which you can rely, and which have not the wit to run away in a battle, are equally immovable when there is anything to be learned ; they seem to be in a torpid state, and are apt to yawn and go to sleep over any intellectual toil. That is true.

And yet we were saying that both qualities were necessary in those to whom the higher education is to be imparted, and who are to share in any office or command. True, he said. And will they be a class which is rarely found ? Yes, indeed.

Then the aspirant must be tested in those labors and dangers and pleasures which we mentioned before ; and there is another kind of probation which we did not mention, — they must be exercised also in many kinds of knowledge, to see whether the soul will be able to endure the highest of all, or will faint under them, as many do amid the toils of the games. ^ Yes, he said, that is the way in which we ought to regard them.

But what do you mean by the highest of all knowledge? You may remember, I said, that we divided the soul into three parts, ^^ and the several natures of justice, temperance, courage, and wisdom were compared and defined by us ? Indeed, he said, if I had forgotten that, I should not deserve to hear more. And do you remember, I said, what preceded the discussion of them ? It See Book IV. , 435-442.