Statesman


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by the hand of man. And they dwelt naked, and mostly in the open air,  
for the temperature of their seasons was mild; and they had no beds, but  
lay on soft couches of grass, which grew plentifully out of the earth.  
Such was the life of man in the days of Cronos, Socrates; the character  
of our present life, which is said to be under Zeus, you know from your  
own experience. Can you, and will you, determine which of them you deem  
the happier?  
YOUNG SOCRATES: Impossible.  
STRANGER: Then shall I determine for you as well as I can?  
YOUNG SOCRATES: By all means.  
STRANGER: Suppose that the nurslings of Cronos, having this boundless  
leisure, and the power of holding intercourse, not only with men, but  
with the brute creation, had used all these advantages with a view to  
philosophy, conversing with the brutes as well as with one another, and  
learning of every nature which was gifted with any special power, and  
was able to contribute some special experience to the store of wisdom,  
there would be no difficulty in deciding that they would be a thousand  
times happier than the men of our own day. Or, again, if they had merely  
eaten and drunk until they were full, and told stories to one another  
and to the animals--such stories as are now attributed to them--in this  
case also, as I should imagine, the answer would be easy. But until some  
satisfactory witness can be found of the love of that age for knowledge  
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Quick Jump
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