274–275
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. How, then, did we err, and what is the great error you say we have committed?
Stranger
Str. In one way we made a comparatively slight error, in another a very important one, much greater and more far-reaching than the first.
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. How did we do that?
Stranger
Str. When we were asked about the king and the statesman of the present movement of the world and mode of generation, we told of the shepherd of the human flock in the time of the reverse movement, and he was a god, not a man, besides. That was a very great error. Then when we declared that he was ruler of the whole state, but did not fully tell in what manner he ruled, what we said was true, though it was not complete nor clear, and therefore our error was less in this case than in the other.
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. True.
Stranger
Str. Apparently, then, we must expect a complete description of the statesman only when we have defined the manner of his rule over the state.
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. Very good.
Stranger
Str. And this is why I introduced the myth, not only in order to show that all men compete for the care of the flock with him whom we are now seeking, but also that we may more clearly see him who alone ought to have the care of human beings as shepherds and neatherds care for their flocks and herds, and therefore alone deserves to be honored with that appellation.
5
Younger Socrates
Y. Soc. Quite right.
