| Plato, Republic (English) (XML Header) [genre: prose] [word count] [lemma count] [Pl. Resp.]. | ||
| <<Pl. Resp. 329c | Pl. Resp. 331b (Greek) | >>Pl. Resp. 332e |
330d“You are right,” he replied. “I assuredly am,” said I. “But tell me further this. What do you regard as the greatest benefit you have enjoyed from the possession of property?” “Something,” he said, “which I might not easily bring many to believe if I told them. note For let me tell you, Socrates,” he said, “that when a man begins to realize that he is going to die, he is filled with apprehensions and concern about matters that before did not occur to him. The tales that are told of the world below and how the men who have done wrong here must pay the penalty there, note though he may have laughed them down note hitherto,
330ethen begin to torture his soul with the doubt that there may be some truth in them. And apart from that the man himself note either from the weakness of old age or possibly as being now nearer to the things beyond has a somewhat clearer view of them. Be that as it may, he is filled with doubt, surmises, and alarms and begins to reckon up and consider whether he has ever wronged anyone. Now he to whom the ledger of his life shows an account of many evil deeds starts up note even from his dreams like children again and again in affright and his days are haunted by anticipations of worse to come. But on him who is conscious of no wrong
331athat he has done a sweet hope note ever attends and a goodly to be nurse of his old age, as Pindar note too says. For a beautiful saying it is, Socrates, of the poet that when a man lives out his days in justice and piety
sweet companion with him, to cheer his heart and nurse his old age, accompaniesPindar Frag. 214, LoebThat is a fine saying and an admirable. It is for this, then, that I affirm that the possession of wealth is of most value 331bnot it may be to every man but to the good man. Not to cheat any man even unintentionally or play him false, not remaining in debt to a god note for some sacrifice or to a man for money, so to depart in fear to that other world—to this result the possession of property contributes not a little. It has also many other uses. But, setting one thing against another, I would lay it down, Socrates, that for a man of sense this is the chief service of wealth.” “An admirable sentiment, Cephalus,” 331csaid I. “But speaking of this very thing, justice, are we to affirm thus without qualification note that it is truth-telling and paying back what one has received from anyone, or may these very actions sometimes be just and sometimes unjust? I mean, for example, as everyone I presume would admit, if one took over weapons from a friend who was in his right mind and then the lender should go mad and demand them back, that we ought not to return them in that case and that he who did so return them would not be acting justly—nor yet would he who chose to speak nothing but the truth 331dto one who was in that state.” “You are right,” he replied. “Then this is not the definition of justice: to tell the truth and return what one has received.” “Nay, but it is, Socrates,” said Polemarchus breaking in, “if indeed we are to put any faith in Simonides.” “Very well,” said Cephalus, “indeed I make over the whole argument note to you. For it is time for me to attend the sacrifices.” “Well,” said I, “is not Polemarchus the heir of everything that is yours?” “Certainly,” said he with a laugh, and at the same time went out to the sacred rites. note
Hope, who chiefly rules the changeful mind of mortals.
331e“Tell me, then, you the inheritor of the argument, what it is that you affirm that Simonides says and rightly says about justice.” “That it is just,” he replied, “to render to each his due. note In saying this I think he speaks well.” “I must admit,” said I, “that it is not easy to disbelieve Simonides. For he is a wise and inspired man. note But just what he may mean by this you, Polemarchus, doubtless know, but I do not. Obviously he does not mean what we were just speaking of, this return of a deposit note to anyone whatsoever even if he asks it back when not in his right mind. And yet what the man deposited 332ais due to him in a sense, is it not?” “Yes.” “But rendered to him it ought not to be by any manner of means when he demands it not being his right mind.” “True,” said he. “It is then something other than this that Simonides must, as it seems, mean by the saying that it is just to render back what is due.” “Something else in very deed,” he replied, “for he believes that friends owe it to friends to do them some good and no evil.” “I see,” said I; “you mean that note he does not render what is due or owing who returns a deposit of gold
| Plato, Republic (English) (XML Header) [genre: prose] [word count] [lemma count] [Pl. Resp.]. | ||
| <<Pl. Resp. 329c | Pl. Resp. 331b (Greek) | >>Pl. Resp. 332e |
