YOUNG SOCRATES: Quite true.

STRANGER: They act on no true principle at all; they seek their ease and

receive with open arms those who are like themselves, and hate those who

are unlike them, being too much influenced by feelings of dislike.

YOUNG SOCRATES: How so?

STRANGER: The quiet orderly class seek for natures like their own, and

as far as they can they marry and give in marriage exclusively in this

class, and the courageous do the same; they seek natures like their own,

whereas they should both do precisely the opposite.

YOUNG SOCRATES: How and why is that?

STRANGER: Because courage, when untempered by the gentler nature during

many generations, may at first bloom and strengthen, but at last bursts

forth into downright madness.

YOUNG SOCRATES: Like enough.

STRANGER: And then, again, the soul which is over-full of modesty and

has no element of courage in many successive generations, is apt to grow

too indolent, and at last to become utterly paralyzed and useless.

124

Statesman