644
Athenian
Ath. Further, we agreed long ago that if men are capable of ruling themselves, they are good, but if incapable, bad.
Clinias
Clin. Quite true.
Athenian
Ath. Let us, then, re-state more clearly what we meant by this. With your permission, I will make use of an illustration in the hope of explaining the matter.
5
Athenian
Ath. May we assume that each of us by himself is a single unit?
Athenian
Ath. And that each possesses within himself two antagonistic and foolish counsellors, whom we call by the names of pleasure and pain?
Clinias
Clin. That is so.
10
Athenian
Ath. And that, besides these two, each man possesses opinions about the future, which go by the general name of expectations; and of these, that which precedes pain bears the special name of fear, and that which precedes pleasure the special name of confidence; and in addition to all these there is calculation, pronouncing which of them is good, which bad; and calculation, when it has become the public decree of the State, is named law.
Clinias
Clin. I have some difficulty in keeping pace with you: assume, however, that I do so, and proceed.
Megillus
Meg. I am in exactly the same predicament.