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Stranger
Str. Yes, quite right. For how could anyone, Socrates, sit beside each person all his life and tell him exactly what is proper for him to do? Certainly anyone who really possessed the kingly science, if he were able to do this, would hardly, I imagine, ever put obstacles in his own way by writing what we call laws.
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Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. No, at least not according to what has just been said.
Stranger
Str. Or rather, my friend, not according to what is going to be said.
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. What is that?
Stranger
Str. Something of this sort: Let us suppose that a physician or a gymnastic trainer is going away and expects to be a long time absent from his patients or pupils; if he thinks they will not remember his instructions, he would want to write them down, would he not?
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. Yes.
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