Book 3
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Ath. Then let it be thus resolved and declared, that no control shall be entrusted to citizens thus ignorant, but that they shall be held in reproach for their ignorance, even though they be expert calculators, and trained in all accomplishments and in everything that fosters agility of soul, while those whose mental condition is the reverse of this shall be entitled wise, even if—as the saying goes—they spell not neither do they swimi.e., are ignorant of even the most ordinary accomplishments. ; and to these latter, as to men of sense, the government shall be entrusted. For without harmony, Cp. Plat. Rep. 430e; 591d. my friends, how could even the smallest fraction of wisdom exist? It is impossible. But the greatest and best of harmonies would most properly be accounted the greatest wisdom; and therein he who lives rationally has a share, whereas he who is devoid thereof will always prove to be a home-wrecker and anything rather than a saviour of the State, because of his ignorance in these matters. So let this declaration stand, as we recently said, as one of our axioms.
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Clin. Yes, let it stand.
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Ath. Our States, I presume, must have rulers and subjects.
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Clin. Of course.
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Ath. Very well then: what and how many are the agreed rights or claims in the matter of ruling and being ruled, alike in States, large or small, and in households? Is not the right of father and mother one of them? And in general would not the claim of parents to rule over offspring be a claim universally just?
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Clin. Certainly.
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Ath. And next to this, the right of the noble to rule over the ignoble; and then, following on these as a third claim, the right of older people to rule and of younger to be ruled.
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Clin. To be sure.
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Ath. The fourth right is that slaves ought to be ruled, and masters ought to rule.
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Clin. Undoubtedly.
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Ath. And the fifth is, I imagine, that the stronger should rule and the weaker be ruled.
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Clin. A truly compulsory form of rule!
