STRANGER: And if he who gave laws, written or unwritten, determining

what was good or bad, honourable or dishonourable, just or unjust, to

the tribes of men who flock together in their several cities, and are

governed in accordance with them; if, I say, the wise legislator were

suddenly to come again, or another like to him, is he to be prohibited

from changing them?--would not this prohibition be in reality quite as

ridiculous as the other?

YOUNG SOCRATES: Certainly.

STRANGER: Do you know a plausible saying of the common people which is

in point?

YOUNG SOCRATES: I do not recall what you mean at the moment.

STRANGER: They say that if any one knows how the ancient laws may be

improved, he must first persuade his own State of the improvement, and

then he may legislate, but not otherwise.

YOUNG SOCRATES: And are they not right?

STRANGER: I dare say. But supposing that he does use some gentle

violence for their good, what is this violence to be called? Or rather,

before you answer, let me ask the same question in reference to our

previous instances.

Statesman