YOUNG SOCRATES: What do you mean?

STRANGER: Suppose that a skilful physician has a patient, of whatever

sex or age, whom he compels against his will to do something for his

good which is contrary to the written rules; what is this compulsion to

be called? Would you ever dream of calling it a violation of the art,

or a breach of the laws of health? Nothing could be more unjust than for

the patient to whom such violence is applied, to charge the physician

who practises the violence with wanting skill or aggravating his

disease.

YOUNG SOCRATES: Most true.

STRANGER: In the political art error is not called disease, but evil, or

disgrace, or injustice.

YOUNG SOCRATES: Quite true.

STRANGER: And when the citizen, contrary to law and custom, is compelled

to do what is juster and better and nobler than he did before, the last

and most absurd thing which he could say about such violence is that

he has incurred disgrace or evil or injustice at the hands of those who

compelled him.

YOUNG SOCRATES: Very true.

Statesman