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Section 134

ALCIBIADES. Certainly not.

SOCRATES. Nor will he know what he is doing.

ALCIBIADES. For he will not.

SOCRATES. And the one not knowing will he not make mistakes?

ALCIBIADES. Very much so.

SOCRATES. And making mistakes will he not fare badly both privately and publicly?

ALCIBIADES. How could he not?

SOCRATES. And faring badly is he not wretched?

ALCIBIADES. Exceedingly so.

SOCRATES. And what of those for whom he does these things?

ALCIBIADES. They too.

SOCRATES. Therefore it is not possible, unless someone is moderate and good, to be happy.

ALCIBIADES. Not possible.

SOCRATES. Therefore the bad among men are wretched.

ALCIBIADES. Exceedingly so.

SOCRATES. Therefore not even the one having become wealthy is delivered from wretchedness, but the one having become moderate.

ALCIBIADES. It appears so.

SOCRATES. Therefore cities do not need walls nor triremes nor dockyards, Alcibiades, if they are going to be happy, nor multitude nor magnitude without virtue.

ALCIBIADES. Indeed not.

SOCRATES. If then you are going to do the affairs of the city correctly and beautifully, you must impart virtue to the citizens.

ALCIBIADES. How could I not?

SOCRATES. And could someone impart what he does not have?

ALCIBIADES. And how?

SOCRATES. Therefore you yourself must first acquire virtue, and anyone else who is going to rule and care not only privately for himself and his own things, but for the city and the things of the city.

ALCIBIADES. You speak the truth.

SOCRATES. Therefore you must not prepare power or rule to do whatever you want for yourself, nor for the city, but justice and moderation.

ALCIBIADES. It appears so.

SOCRATES. For doing justly and moderately you and the city will fare pleasing to the god.

ALCIBIADES. Likely so.

SOCRATES. And what we said in the former parts, looking into the divine and bright you will act.

ALCIBIADES. It appears so.

SOCRATES. But indeed looking there you will observe and know yourselves and your good things.

ALCIBIADES. Yes.

SOCRATES. Therefore will you fare both correctly and well?

ALCIBIADES. Yes.

SOCRATES. But indeed acting thus I am willing to guarantee you that you will truly be happy.

ALCIBIADES. For you are a safe guarantor.

SOCRATES. But acting unjustly, looking into the godless and dark, as is likely, you will do things similar to these, being ignorant of yourselves.

ALCIBIADES. It seems so.