POLITEIA (Republic) by Plato - Complete text

Part 2 Page 14

They may very possibly afford some amusement, but they do not conduce to temperance. And therefore they are likely to do harm to our young men —you would agree with me there?

Yes.

And then, again, to make the wisest of men say that nothing in his opinion is more glorious than -

When the tables are full of bread and meat, and the cup-bearer carries round wine which he draws from the bowl and pours into the cups, -

is it fit or conducive to temperance for a young man to hear such words? Or the verse -

The saddest of fates is to die and meet destiny from hunger? -

What would you say again to the tale of Zeus, who, while other gods and men were asleep and he the only person awake, lay devising plans, but forgot them all in a moment through his lust, and was so completely overcome at the sight of Here that he would not even go into the hut, but wanted to lie with her on the ground, declaring that he had never been in such a state of rapture before, even when they first met one another -

Without the knowledge of their parents; -

or that other tale of how Hephaestus, because of similar goings on, cast a chain around Ares and Aphrodite?

Indeed, he said, I am strongly of opinion that they ought not to hear that sort of thing.

But any deeds of endurance which are done or told by famous men, these they ought to see and hear; as, for example, what is said in the verses, -

He smote his breast, and thus reproached his heart,

Endure, my heart; far worse hast thou endured! -

Certainly, he said.

In the next place, we must not let them be receivers of gifts or lovers of money.

Certainly not.

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Plato : POLITEIA

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