674–676
Clinias
Clin. Very good; we quite agree.
Athenian
Ath. So much for that, then! Now, what are we to say about the origin of government? Would not the best and easiest way of discerning it be from this standpoint?
Clinias
Clin. What standpoint?
Athenian
Ath. That from which one should always observe the progress of States as they move towards either goodness or badness.
Clinias
Clin. What point is that?
Athenian
Ath. The observation, as I suppose, of an infinitely long period of time and of the variations therein occurring.
5
Clinias
Clin. Explain your meaning.
Athenian
Ath. Tell me now: do you think you could ever ascertain the space of time that has passed since cities came into existence and men lived under civic rule?
Clinias
Clin. Certainly it would be no easy task.
Athenian
Ath. But you can easily see that it is vast and immeasurable?
Clinias
Clin. That I most certainly can do.
10
Athenian
Ath. During this time, have not thousands upon thousands of States come into existence, and, on a similar computation, just as many perished? And have they not in each case exhibited all kinds of constitutions over and over again? And have they not changed at one time from small to great, at another from great to small, and changed also from good to bad and from bad to good?
Clinias
Clin. Necessarily.
Athenian
Ath. Of this process of change let us discover, if we can, the cause; for this, perhaps, would show us what is the primary origin of constitutions, as well as their transformation.
Clinias
Clin. You are right; and we must all exert ourselves,—you to expound your view about them, and we to keep pace with you.