YOUNG SOCRATES: Yes, we said so.

STRANGER: And any individual or any number of men, having fixed laws, in

acting contrary to them with a view to something better, would only be

acting, as far as they are able, like the true Statesman?

YOUNG SOCRATES: Certainly.

STRANGER: If they had no knowledge of what they were doing, they would

imitate the truth, and they would always imitate ill; but if they had

knowledge, the imitation would be the perfect truth, and an imitation no

longer.

YOUNG SOCRATES: Quite true.

STRANGER: And the principle that no great number of men are able to

acquire a knowledge of any art has been already admitted by us.

YOUNG SOCRATES: Yes, it has.

STRANGER: Then the royal or political art, if there be such an art, will

never be attained either by the wealthy or by the other mob.

YOUNG SOCRATES: Impossible.

STRANGER: Then the nearest approach which these lower forms of

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