Memorabilia

But, you see, in the army, where good conduct, discipline, submission are most necessary, our people pay no attention to these things.This may be due to the incompetence of the officers. You must have noticed that no one attempts to exercise authority over our harpists, choristers and dancers, if he is incompetent, nor over wrestlers or wrestlers who also box? All who have authority over them can tell where they learned their business; but most of our generals are improvisors.

However, I don’t suppose you are one of this sort. I suppose you can say when you began to learn strategy as well as when you began wrestling. Many of the principles, I think, you have inherited from your father, and many others you have gathered from every source from which you could learn anything useful to a general.

I think, too, that you take much trouble that you may not unconsciously lack any knowledge useful to a general; and if you find that you don’t know anything, you seek out those who have the knowledge, grudging neither gifts nor thanks, that you may learn what you don’t know from them and may have the help of good coaching.

I can see, Socrates, that in saying this you don’t really think I study these things, but you are trying to show me that one who is going to command an army must study all of them; and of course I admit that you are right.

Have you observed, Pericles, that our frontier is protected by great mountains extending to Boeotia, through which there are steep and narrow passes leading into our land, and that the interior is cut across by rugged mountains?Certainly.

Further, have you heard that the Mysians and Pisidians, occupying very rugged country in the Great King’s territory and lightly armed, contrive to overrun and damage the King’s territory and to preserve their own freedom?[*](Anabasis II. v. 13.)Yes, I have heard so.

And don’t you think that active young Athenians, more lightly armed and occupying the mountains that protect our country, would prove a thorn in the side of the enemy and a strong bulwark of defence to our people?Socrates, replied Pericles, I think all these suggestions too have a practical value.

Then, since you like them, adopt them, my good fellow. Any part of them that you carry out will bring honour to you and good to the state; and should you fail in part, you will neither harm the state nor disgrace yourself.

Ariston’s son, Glaucon, was attempting to become an orator and striving for headship in the state, though he was less than twenty years old; and none of his friends or relations could check him, though he would get himself dragged from the platform and make himself a laughing-stock. Only Socrates, who took an interest in him for the sake of Plato and Glaucon’s[*](i.e., the elder Glaucon.) son Charmides, managed to check him.

For once on meeting him, he stopped him and contrived to engage his attention by saying: Glaucon, have you made up your mind to be our chief man in the state?I have, Socrates.Well, upon my word there’s no more honourable ambition in the world; for obviously, if you gain your object, you will be able to get whatever you want, and you will have the means of helping your friends: you will lift up your father’s house and exalt your fatherland; and you will make a name for yourself first at home, later on in Greece, and possibly, like Themistocles, in foreign lands as well; wherever you go, you will be a man of mark.

When Glaucon heard this, he felt proud and gladly lingered.Next Socrates asked, Well, Glaucon, as you want to win honour, is it not obvious that you must benefit your city?Most certainly.Pray don’t be reticent, then; but tell us how you propose to begin your services to the state.

As Glaucon remained dumb, apparently considering for the first time how to begin, Socrates said: If you wanted to add to a friend’s fortune, you would set about making him richer. Will you try, then, to make your city richer?Certainly.

Would she not be richer if she had a larger revenue?Oh yes, presumably.Now tell me, from what sources are the city’s revenues at present derived and what is their total? No doubt you have gone into this matter, in order to raise the amount of any that are deficient and supply any that are lacking.Certainly not, exclaimed Glaucon, I haven’t gone into that.

Well, if you have left that out, tell us the expenditure of the city. No doubt you intend to cut down any items that are excessive.The fact is, I haven’t had time yet for that either.Oh, then we will postpone the business of making the city richer; for how is it possible to look after income and expenditure without knowing what they are?

Well, Socrates, one can make our enemies contribute to the city’s wealth.Yes, of course, provided he is stronger than they; but if he be weaker, he may lose what she has got instead.True.

Therefore, in order to advise her whom to fight, it is necessary to know the strength of the city and of the enemy, so that, if the city be stronger, one may recommend her to go to war, but if weaker than the enemy, may persuade her to beware.You are right.

First, then, tell us the naval and military strength of our city, and then that of her enemies.No, of course I can’t tell you out of my head.Well, if you have made notes, fetch them, for I should greatly like to hear this.But, I tell you, I haven’t yet made any notes either.

Then we will postpone offering advice about war too for the present. You are new to power, and perhaps have not had time to investigate such big problems. But the defence of the country, now, I feel sure you have thought about that, and know how many of the garrisons are well placed and how many are not, and how many of the guards are efficient and how many are not; and you will propose to strengthen the well-placed garrisons and to do away with those that are superfluous.

No, no; I shall propose to do away with them all, for the only effect of maintaining them is that our crops are stolen.But if you do away with the garrisons, don’t you think that anyone will be at liberty to rob us openly? However, have you been on a tour of inspection, or how do you know that they are badly maintained?By guess-work.Then shall we wait to offer advice on this question too until we really know, instead of merely guessing?Perhaps it would be better.Now for the silver mines.

I am sure you have not visited them, and so cannot tell why the amount derived from them has fallen.No, indeed, I have not been there.To be sure: the district is considered unhealthy, and so when you have to offer advice on the problem, this excuse will serve.You’re chaffing me.