307–308
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. Yes, that is likely to be the case.
Stranger
Str. Now this opposition of these two classes is mere child’s play but when it affects the most important matters it becomes a most detestable disease in the state.
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. What matters does it affect?
Stranger
Str. The whole course of life, in all probability. For those who are especially decorous are ready to live always a quiet and retired life and to mind their own business; this is the manner of their intercourse with every one at home, and they are equally ready at all times to keep peace in some way or other with foreign states. And because of this desire of theirs, which is often inopportune and excessive, when they have their own way they quite unconsciously become unwarlike, and they make the young men unwarlike also; they are at the mercy of aggressors; and thus in a few years they and their children and the whole state often pass by imperceptible degrees from freedom to slavery.
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Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. That is a hard and terrible experience.
Stranger
Str. But how about those who incline towards courage? Do they not constantly urge their countries to war, because of their excessive desire for a warlike life? Do they not involve them in hostilities with many powerful opponents and either utterly destroy their native lands or enslave and subject them to their foes?
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. Yes, that is true, too.
Stranger
Str. Then in these examples how can we deny that these two classes are always filled with the greatest hostility and opposition to one another?
