Statesman by Plato. - HTML preview

112

Plato

YOUNG SOCRATES: Certainly.

prescribe generally the regimen which will benefit the majority.

STRANGER: Let me ask, whether you have not meetings for gymnastic contests in your city, such YOUNG SOCRATES: Very true.

as there are in other cities, at which men compete in running, wrestling, and the like?

STRANGER: And therefore they assign equal amounts of exercise to them all; they send them YOUNG SOCRATES: Yes; they are very common forth together, and let them rest together from their among us.

running, wrestling, or whatever the form of bodily exercise may be.

STRANGER: And what are the rules which are enforced on their pupils by professional trainers or by YOUNG SOCRATES: True.

others having similar authority? Can you remember?

STRANGER: And now observe that the legislator who has to preside over the herd, and to enforce YOUNG SOCRATES: To what do you refer?

justice in their dealings with one another, will not be able, in enacting for the general good, to provide STRANGER: The training-masters do not issue exactly what is suitable for each particular case.

minute rules for individuals, or give every individual what is exactly suited to his constitution; they think YOUNG SOCRATES: He cannot be expected to that they ought to go more roughly to work, and to do so.