961
Athenian
Ath. Resuming, then, the subject of this synod, I will say this:—If one were to lay this down as an anchor for the whole State, possessing all the requisite conditions,—then, I affirm, it would secure the salvation of all that we desire.
Athenian
Ath. Now will be the time for us to display no lack of zeal in declaring truly what follows.
5
Clinias
Clin. Excellently spoken! Proceed as you propose.
Athenian
Ath. One ought to observe, Clinias, in regard to every object, in each of its operations, what constitutes its appropriate savior—as, for example, in an animal, the soul and the head are eminently such by nature.
Clinias
Clin. How do you mean?
Athenian
Ath. Surely it is the goodness of those parts that provides salvation to every animal.
Athenian
Ath. By the existence of reason in the soul, in addition to all its other qualities, and by the existence of sight and hearing, in addition to all else, in the head; thus, to summarize the matter, it is the combination of reason with the finest senses, and their union in one, that would most justly be termed the salvation of each animal.
Clinias
Clin. That is certainly probable.
Athenian
Ath. It is probable. But what kind of reason is it which, when combined with senses, will afford salvation to ships in stormy weather and calm? On shipboard is it not the pilot and the sailors who, by combining the senses with the pilot reason, secure salvation both for themselves and for all that belongs to the ship?