Economics

And that when men farm the same kind of land, some are poverty-stricken and declare that they are ruined by farming, and others do well with the farm and have all they want in abundance?Yes, of course; for maybe some spend money not on necessary purposes only but on what brings harm to the owner and the estate.Perhaps there are such people.

But I am referring rather to those who haven’t the money to meet even the necessary expenses, though professing to be farmers.Now what can be the reason of that, Socrates?I will take you to these too; and when you watch them, you will find out, I fancy.Of course; that is, if I can.

Then you must watch, and try by experiment whether you are capable of understanding. At present I observe that when a comedy is to be seen, you get up very early and walk a very long way and press me eagerly to go to the play with you. But you have never yet invited me to see a drama of real life like this.You think me ridiculous, don’t you, Socrates?You think yourself far more so, I am sure.

And suppose I show you that some have been brought to penury by keeping horses, while others prosper by doing so, and moreover glory in their gain?Well, I too see and know instances of both; I am not one of the gainers for all that.

The fact is you watch them just as you watch the actors in tragedy or comedy, not, I suppose, to become a playwright, but for the pleasure of seeing and hearing something. And perhaps there is no harm in that, because you don’t want to write plays; but seeing that you are forced to meddle with horses, don’t you think that common-sense requires you to see that you are not ignorant of the business, the more so as the self-same horses are both good to use and profitable to sell?

Would you have me break in colts, Socrates?Of course not, no more than I would have you buy children to train as agricultural labourers; but horses and human beings alike, I think, on reaching a certain age forthwith become useful and go on improving. I can also show you that husbands differ widely in their treatment of their wives, and some succeed in winning their co-operation and thereby increase their estates, while others bring utter ruin on their houses by their behaviour to them.

And ought one to blame the husband or the wife for that, Socrates?When a sheep is ailing, said Socrates, we generally blame the shepherd, and when a horse is vicious, we generally find fault with his rider. In the case of a wife, if she receives instruction in the right way from her husband and yet does badly, perhaps she should bear the blame; but if the husband does not instruct his wife in the right way of doing things, and so finds her ignorant, should he not bear the blame himself?

Anyhow, Critobulus, you should tell us the truth, for we are all friends here. Is there anyone to whom you commit more affairs of importance than you commit to your wife?There is not.Is there anyone with whom you talk less?There are few or none, I confess.

And you married her when she was a mere child and had seen and heard almost nothing?Certainly.Then it would be far more surprising if she understood what she should say or do than if she made mistakes.