Economics

Very well; what sort of men can be taught? Point these out to me, at all events.In the first place, Socrates, you can’t make careful men of hard drinkers; for drink makes them forget everything they ought to do.

Then are drunkards the only men who will never become careful, or are there others?Of course there are—sluggards must be included; for you can’t do your own business when you are asleep, nor make others do theirs.

Well, then, will these make up the total of persons incapable of learning this lesson, or are there yet others besides?I should add that in my opinion a man who falls desperately in love is incapable of giving more attention to anything than he gives to the object of his passion.

For it isn’t easy to find hope or occupation more delightful than devotion to the darling! aye, and when the thing to be done presses, no harder punishment can easily be thought of than the prevention of intercourse with the beloved! Therefore I shrink from attempting to make a manager of that sort of man too.

And what about the men who have a passion for lucre? Are they also incapable of being trained to take charge of the work of a farm?Not at all; of course not. In fact, they very easily qualify for the work. It is merely necessary to point out to them that diligence is profitable.