294–295
Stranger
Str. Why in the world, then, is it necessary to make laws, since law is not the most perfect right? We must ask the reason for this.
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. Yes, of course.
Stranger
Str. Well, there are here at Athens, as in other cities, classes for practice in athletics to prepare for contests in running or the like, are there not?
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. Yes, a great many of them.
Stranger
Str. Now let us recall to mind the orders given by the professional trainers when they are in charge of such classes.
15
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. What do you mean?
Stranger
Str. They think they cannot go into details in individual cases and order what is best for each person’s physique; they think they must employ a rougher method and give a general rule which will be good for the physique of the majority.
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. Good.
Stranger
Str. And therefore they nowadays assign equal exercise to whole classes; they make them begin at the same time and stop at the same time, whether they run or wrestle or practise any other kind of bodily exercise.
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. That is true.
20
Stranger
Str. And so we must believe that the law-maker who is to watch over the herds and maintain justice and the obligation of contracts, will never be able by making laws for all collectively, to provide exactly that which is proper for each individual.
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. Probably not, at any rate.
Stranger
Str. But he will, I fancy, legislate for the majority and in a general way only roughly for individuals, whether he issues written laws or his enactments follow the unwritten traditional customs.
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. Quite right.
