Ath. Let us, then, in the first place declare and affirm that the citizen who
does not know these things ought never to have any kind of authority entrusted
to him: he must be stigmatized as ignorant, even though he be versed in
calculation and skilled in all sorts of accomplishments, and feats of mental
dexterity; and the opposite are to be called wise, even although, in the words
of the proverb, they know neither how to read nor how to swim; and to them, as
to men of sense, authority is to be committed. For, O my friends, how can
there be the least shadow of wisdom when there is no harmony? There is none;
but the noblest and greatest of harmonies may be truly said to be the greatest
wisdom; and of this he is a partaker who lives according to reason; whereas he
who is devoid of reason is the destroyer of his house and the very opposite of
a saviour of the state: he is utterly ignorant of political wisdom. Let this,
then, as I was saying, be laid down by us.
Cle. Let it be so laid down.
Ath. I suppose that there must be rulers and subjects in states?
Laws part 2 of 3, 4, 5. You are at part 1
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