690
Athenian
Ath. Very well then: what and how many are the agreed rights or claims in the matter of ruling and being ruled, alike in States, large or small, and in households? Is not the right of father and mother one of them? And in general would not the claim of parents to rule over offspring be a claim universally just?
Athenian
Ath. And next to this, the right of the noble to rule over the ignoble; and then, following on these as a third claim, the right of older people to rule and of younger to be ruled.
Clinias
Clin. To be sure.
Athenian
Ath. The fourth right is that slaves ought to be ruled, and masters ought to rule.
5
Clinias
Clin. Undoubtedly.
Athenian
Ath. And the fifth is, I imagine, that the stronger should rule and the weaker be ruled.
Clinias
Clin. A truly compulsory form of rule!
Athenian
Ath. Yes, and one that is very prevalent among all kinds of creatures, being according to nature, as Pindar of Thebes once said.Cp. Plat. Gorg. 484b Πίνδαρος . . . λέγει ὅτι Νόμος . . . κατὰ ρύσιν ἄγει δικαιῶν τὸ βιαιότατον ὑπερτάτᾳ χεπί. The most important right is, it would seem, the sixth, which ordains that the man without understanding should follow, and the wise man lead and rule. Nevertheless, my most sapient Pindar, this is a thing that I, for one, would hardly assert to be against nature, but rather according thereto—the natural rule of law, without force, over willing subjects.
Clinias
Clin. A very just observation.
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