Athenian Stranger. Enough of this. And what, then, is to be regarded as the
origin of government? Will not a man be able to judge of it best from a point
of view in which he may behold the progress of states and their transitions to
good or evil?
Cleinias. What do you mean?
Ath. I mean that he might watch them from the point of view of time, and
observe the changes which take place in them during infinite ages.
Cle. How
so?
Ath. Why, do you think that you can reckon the time which has elapsed since
cities first existed and men were citizens of them?
Cle. Hardly.
Ath. But are sure that it must be vast and incalculable?
Cle. Certainly.
Ath. And have not thousands and thousands of cities come into being during
this period and as many perished? And has not each of them had every form of
government many times over, now growing larger, now smaller, and again
improving or declining?
Laws part 2 of 3, 4, 5. You are at part 1
Plato Search ||| Aristotle
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