Greek Texts & Translations

“There remains for consideration,” said I, “the tyrannical man himself—the manner of his development out of the democratic type and his character and the quality of his life, whether wretched or happy.” “Why, yes, he still remains,” he said. “Do you know, then, what it is that I still miss?” “What?” “In the matter of our desires I do not think we sufficiently distinguished their nature and number. And so long as this is lacking 571bour inquiry will lack clearness.” “Well,” said he, “will our consideration of them not still be opportune ^note?” “By all means. And observe what it is about them that I wish to consider. It is this. Of our unnecessary pleasures ^note and appetites there are some lawless ones, I think, which probably are to be found in us all, but which, when controlled ^note by the laws and the better desires in alliance with reason, can in some men be altogether got rid of, or so nearly so that only a few weak ones remain, 571cwhile in others the remnant is stronger and more numerous.” “What desires do you mean?” he said. “Those,” said I, “that are awakened in sleep ^note when the rest of the soul, the rational, gentle and dominant part, slumbers, but the beastly and savage part, replete with food and wine, gambols and, repelling sleep, endeavors to sally forth and satisfy its own instincts. ^note You are aware that in such case there is nothing it will not venture to undertake as being released from all sense of shame and all reason. It does not shrink from attempting to lie with a mother 571din fancy or with anyone else, man, god or brute. It is ready for any foul deed of blood; it abstains from no food, and, in a word, falls short of no extreme of folly ^note and shamelessness.” “Most true,” he said. “But when, I suppose, a man's condition is healthy and sober, and he goes to sleep after arousing his rational part and entertaining it with fair words and thoughts, and attaining to clear self-consciousness, while he has neither starved 571enor indulged to repletion his appetitive part, so that it may be lulled to sleep ^note 572aand not disturb the better part by its pleasure or pain, but may suffer that in isolated purity to examine and reach out towards and apprehend some of the things unknown to it, past, present or future and when he has in like manner tamed his passionate part, and does not after a quarrel fall asleep ^note with anger still awake within him, but if he has thus quieted the two elements in his soul and quickened the third, in which reason resides, and so goes to his rest, you are aware that in such case ^note he is most likely to apprehend truth, and 572bthe visions of his dreams are least likely to be lawless.” ^note “I certainly think so,” he said. “This description has carried us too far, ^note but the point that we have to notice is this, that in fact there exists in every one of us, even in some reputed most respectable, ^note a terrible, fierce and lawless brood of desires, which it seems are revealed in our sleep. Consider, then, whether there is anything in what I say, and whether you admit it.” “Well, I do.”

“Now recall ^note our characterization of the democratic man. 572cHis development was determined by his education from youth under a thrifty father who approved only the acquisitive appetites and disapproved the unnecessary ones whose object is entertainment and display. Is not that so?” “Yes.” “And by association with more sophisticated men, teeming with the appetites we have just described, he is impelled towards every form of insolence and outrage, and to the adoption of their way of life by his hatred of his father's niggardliness. But since his nature is better than that of his corrupters, 572dbeing drawn both ways he settles down in a compromise ^note between the two tendencies, and indulging and enjoying each in moderation, forsooth, ^note as he supposes, ^note he lives what he deems a life that is neither illiberal nor lawless, now transformed from an oligarch to a democrat.” “That was and is our belief about this type.” “Assume, ^note then, again,” said I, “that such a man when he is older has a son bred in turn ^note in his ways of life.” “I so assume.” “And suppose the experience of his father 572eto be repeated in his case. He is drawn toward utter lawlessness, which is called by his seducers complete freedom. His father and his other kin lend support to ^note these compromise appetites while the others lend theirs to the opposite group. And when these dread magi ^note and king-makers come to realize that they have no hope of controlling the youth in any other way, they contrive to engender in his soul a ruling passion ^note to be the protector ^note