Page:Plato (IA platocollins00colliala).pdf/133

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THE REPUBLIC.
121

another's society, and not begetting children beyond their means, through a prudent fear of poverty or war."—D.

Glaucon objects that if Socrates had been founding "a city of pigs," he could hardly have given them less; and suggests that he should add the refinements of modern life.

I see, continues Socrates, that we shall have to enlarge and decorate our State with the fine arts, and all the "fair humanities" of life; gold and ivory, paintings and embroidery will be found there; and a host of ornamental trades will soon spring up—dancers, cooks, barbers, musicians, and confectioners. So largely, in fact, will our population then increase, that the land will not be able to support it. Hence fresh territory must be acquired, and we must go to war to get it. We shall thus want a camp and a standing army.

Now the art of war, more than any other, must be a separate craft; and the soldier's profession requires not only a natural aptitude, but the study of a lifetime. How shall we choose those who are to be our Guardians? Clearly, they should have all the qualities of well-bred dogs—quick to see, swift to follow, and strong to fight—brave and spirited, gentle to friends, but fierce against their foes. Their natures must be harmonised by philosophy; and philosophy involves education.

In our education we will follow the old routine: first,—Music that is, all training by words and sounds. But we will have a strict censorship of the press, and