ys
of the wealthy and be wise.

Socrates professes to have found in Callicles the philosopher's
touchstone; and he is certain that any opinion in which they both agree
must be the very truth. Callicles has all the three qualities which are
needed in a critic--knowledge, good-will, frankness; Gorgias and Polus,
although learned men, were too modest, and their modesty made them
contradict themselves. But Callicles is well-educated; and he is not
too modest to speak out (of this he has already given proof), and his
good-will is shown both by his own profession and by his giving the same
caution against philosophy to Socrates, which Socrates remembers hearing
him give long ago to his own clique of friends. He will pledge himself
to retract any error into which he may have fallen, and which Callicles
may point out. But he would like to know first of all what he and Pindar
mean by natural justice. Do they suppose that the rule of justice is the
rule of the stronger or of the better?' 'There is no difference.' Then
are not the many superior to the one, and the opinions of the many
better? And their opinion is that justice is equality, and that to do is
more dishonourable than to suffer wrong. And as they are the superior or
stronger, this opinion of theirs must be in accordance with natural as
well as conventional justice. 'Why will you continue splitting words?
Have I not told you that the superior is the better?' But what do you
mean by the better? Tell me that, and please to be a little milder
in your language, if you do not wish to drive me away. 'I mean the
worthier, the wiser.' You mean to say that one man of sense ought to
rule over ten thousand fools? 'Yes, that is my meaning.' Ought the
physician then to have a larger share of meats and drinks? or the weaver
to have more coats, or the cobbler larger shoes, or the farmer more
seed? 'You are always saying the same things, Socrates.' Yes, and on the
same subjects too; but you are never saying the same things. For, first,
you defined the superior to be the stronger, and then the wiser, and now
something else;--what DO you mean? 'I mean men of political ability, who
ought to govern and to have more than the governed.' Than themselves?
'What do you mean?' I mean to say that every man is his own governor. 'I
see that you mean those dolts, the temperate. But my doctrine is, that a
man should let his desires grow, and take the means of satisfying them.
To the many this is impo