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SOCRATES： Then such a man can never be a statesman？
ALCIBIADES： He cannot。
SOCRATES： Nor an economist？
ALCIBIADES： He cannot。
SOCRATES： He will not know what he is doing？
ALCIBIADES： He will not。
SOCRATES： And will not he who is ignorant fall into error？
ALCIBIADES： Assuredly。
SOCRATES： And if he falls into error will he not fail both in his public
and private capacity？
ALCIBIADES： Yes； indeed。
SOCRATES： And failing； will he not be miserable？
ALCIBIADES： Very。
SOCRATES： And what will become of those for whom he is acting？
ALCIBIADES： They will be miserable also。
SOCRATES： Then he who is not wise and good cannot be happy？
ALCIBIADES： He cannot。
SOCRATES： The bad； then； are miserable？
ALCIBIADES： Yes； very。
SOCRATES： And if so； not he who has riches； but he who has wisdom； is
delivered from his misery？
ALCIBIADES： Clearly。
SOCRATES： Cities； then； if they are to be happy； do not want walls； or
triremes； or docks； or numbers； or size； Alcibiades； without virtue？
（Compare Arist。 Pol。）
ALCIBIADES： Indeed they do not。
SOCRATES： And you must give the citizens virtue； if you mean to administer
their affairs rightly or nobly？
ALCIBIADES： Certainly。
SOCRATES： But can a man give that which he has not？
ALCIBIADES： Impossible。
SOCRATES： Then you or any one who means to govern and superintend； not
only himself and the things of himself； but the state and the things of the
state； must in the first place acquire virtue。
ALCIBIADES： That is true。
SOCRATES： You have not therefore to obtain power or authority； in order to
enable you to do what you wish for yourself and the state； but justice and
wisdom。
ALCIBIADES： Clearly。
SOCRATES： You and the state； if you act wisely and justly； will act
according to the will of God？
ALCIBIADES： Certainly。
SOCRATES： As I was saying before； you will look only at what is bright and
divine； and act with a view to them？
ALCIBIADES： Yes。
SOCRATES： In that mirror you will see and know yourselves and your own
good？
ALCIBIADES： Yes。
SOCRATES： And so you will act rightly and well？
ALCIBIADES： Yes。
SOCRATES： In which case； I will be security for your happiness。
ALCIBIADES： I accept the security。
SOCRATES： But if you act unrighteously； your eye will turn to the dark and
godless； and being in darkness and ignorance of yourselves； you will
probably do deeds of darkness。
ALCIBIADES： Very possibly。
SOCRATES： For if a man； my dear Alcibiades； has the power to do what he
likes； but has no understanding； what is likely to be the result； either to
him as an individual or to the statefor example； if he be sick and is
able to do what he likes； not having the mind of a physicianhaving
moreover tyrannical power； and no one daring to reprove him； what will
happen to him？ Will he not be likely to have his constitution ruined？
ALCIBIADES： That is true。
SOCRATES： Or again； in a ship； if a man having the power to do what he
likes； has no intelligence or skill in navigation； do you see what will
happen to him and to his fellow…sailors？
ALCIBIADES： Yes； I see that they will all perish。
SOCRATES： And in like manner； in a state； and where there is any power and
authority which is wanting in virtue； will not misfortune； in like manner；
ensue？
ALCIBIADES： Certainly。
SOCRATES： Not tyrannical power； then； my good Alcibiades； should be the
aim either of individuals or states； if they would be happy； but virtue。
ALCIBIADES： That is true。
SOCRATES： And before they have virtue； to be commanded by a superior is
better for men as well as for children？ （Compare Arist。 Pol。）
ALCIBIADES： That is evident。
SOCRATES： And that which is better is also nobler？
ALCIBIADES： True。
SOCRATES： And what is nobler is more becoming？
ALCIBIADES： Certainly。
SOCRATES： Then to the bad man slavery is more becoming； because better？
ALCIBIADES： True。
SOCRATES： Then vice is only suited to a slave？
ALCIBIADES： Yes。
SOCRATES： And virtue to a freeman？
ALCIBIADES： Yes。
SOCRATES： And； O my friend； is not the condition of a slave to be avoided？
ALCIBIADES： Certainly； Socrates。
SOCRATES： And are you now conscious of your own state？ And do you know
whether you are a freeman or not？
ALCIBIADES： I think that I am very conscious indeed of my own state。
SOCRATES： And do you know how to escape out of a state which I do not even
like to name to my beauty？
ALCIBIADES： Yes； I do。
SOCRATES： How？
ALCIBIADES： By your help； Socrates。
SOCRATES： That is not well said； Alcibiades。
ALCIBIADES： What ought I to have said？
SOCRATES： By the help of God。
ALCIBIADES： I agree； and I further say； that our relations are likely to
be reversed。 From this day forward； I must and will follow you as you have
followed me； I will be the disciple； and you shall be my master。
SOCRATES： O that is rare！ My love breeds another love： and so like the
stork I shall be cherished by the bird whom I have hatched。
ALCIBIADES： Strange； but true； and henceforward I shall begin to think
about justice。
SOCRATES： And I hope that you will persist； although I have fears； not
because I doubt you； but I see the power of the state； which may be too
much for both of us。
End