Very true, he replied.
Now what man answers to this form of government-how did he come
into being, and what is he like?
SOCRATES - ADEIMANTUS
I think, said Adeimantus, that in the spirit of contention
which characterises him, he is not unlike our friend Glaucon.
Perhaps, I said, he may be like him in that one point; but there
are other respects in which he is very different.
In what respects?
He should have more of self-assertion and be less cultivated,
and yet a friend of culture; and he should be a good listener,
but no speaker. Such a person is apt to be rough with slaves,
unlike the educated man, who is too proud for that; and he will
also be courteous to freemen, and remarkably obedient to authority;
he is a lover of power and a lover of honour; claiming to be a ruler,
not because he is eloquent, or on any ground of that sort,
but because he is a soldier and has performed feats of arms;
he is also a lover of gymnastic exercises and of the chase.
Yes, that is the type of character which answers to timocracy.
Such an one will despise riches only when he is young;
but as he gets older he will be more and more attracted to them,
because he has a piece of the avaricious nature in him, and is
not singleminded towards virtue, having lost his best guardian.
Who was that? said Adeimantus.
Pages:
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373