STRANGER: And whether with a view to the public good they purge the

State by killing some, or exiling some; whether they reduce the size of

the body corporate by sending out from the hive swarms of citizens,

or, by introducing persons from without, increase it; while they act

according to the rules of wisdom and justice, and use their power with

a view to the general security and improvement, the city over which they

rule, and which has these characteristics, may be described as the only

true State. All other governments are not genuine or real; but only

imitations of this, and some of them are better and some of them are

worse; the better are said to be well governed, but they are mere

imitations like the others.

YOUNG SOCRATES: I agree, Stranger, in the greater part of what you say;

but as to their ruling without laws--the expression has a harsh sound.

STRANGER: You have been too quick for me, Socrates; I was just going to

ask you whether you objected to any of my statements. And now I see that

we shall have to consider this notion of there being good government

without laws.

YOUNG SOCRATES: Certainly.

STRANGER: There can be no doubt that legislation is in a manner the

business of a king, and yet the best thing of all is not that the law

should rule, but that a man should rule supposing him to have wisdom and

royal power. Do you see why this is?

Statesman