ottery only as much as they like;
in this way we might make every class happy-and then, as you imagine,
the whole State would be happy. But do not put this idea into our
heads; for, if we listen to you, the husbandman will be no longer a
husbandman, the potter will cease to be a potter, and no one will have
the character of any distinct class in the State. Now this is not of
much consequence where the corruption of society, and pretension to be
what you are not, is confined to cobblers; but when the guardians of
the laws and of the government are only seemingly and not real
guardians, then see how they turn the State upside down; and on the
other hand they alone have the power of giving order and happiness to
the State. We mean our guardians to be true saviours and not the
destroyers of the State, whereas our opponent is thinking of peasants
at a festival, who are enjoying a life of revelry, not of citizens who
are doing their duty to the State. But, if so, we mean different
things, and he is speaking of something which is not a State. And
therefore we must consider whether in appointing our guardians we would
look to their greatest happiness individually, or whether this
principle of happiness does not rather reside in the State as a whole.
But the latter be the truth, then the guardians and auxillaries, and
all others equally with them, must be compelled or induced to do their
own work in the best way. And thus the whole State will grow up in a
noble order, and the several classes will receive the proportion of
happiness which nature assigns to them.

I think that you are quite right.

I wonder whether you will agree with another remark which occurs to me.

What may that be?

There seem to be two causes of the deterioration of the arts.

What are they?

Wealth, I said, and poverty.

How do they act?

The process is as follows: When a potter becomes rich, will he, think
you, any longer take the same pains with his art?

Certainly not.

He will grow more and more indolent and careless?

Very true.

And the result will be that he becomes a worse potter?

Yes; he greatly deteriorates.

But, on the other hand, if he has no money, and cannot provide himself
tools or instruments, he will not work equally well himself, nor will
he teach his sons or apprentices to work equally well.

Certainly not.

Then, under the influence either of poverty or of wealth, workmen and
their work are equally liable