Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-01-29

Soc. And If the soul, my dear Alcibi-
AIDES, is ever to know herself, must she
not look at the soul; and especially at
that part of the soul in which her virtue
resides, and which is like herself?
AL. agree, Socrates.
Soc. And do we know of any part of
our souls more divine than that which
has to do with wisdom and knowledge?
AL. There is none.
Soc. Then this is that part of the soul
which resembles the divine, and he who
looks at this and knows all that is divine,
will be most likely to know himself?
AL. That is plain.
Soc. And self-knowledge we acknowl
edge to be wisdom?
AL. True.
Soc. And if we have no self-knowl-
edge and no wisdom, can we ever know
our own good and evil?
AL. How is that possible, Socrates?
Soc. You mean, that if you did not
know, Alcibiades, there would be no pos
sibility of your knowing that what be-
longed to Alcbiades was really his?
AL. That would indeed be impossible.
Soc. Nor should we know that we
were the persons to whom anything be-
longed, if we did not know ourselves:
AL. How could we?
! SOC. And if we did not know our
own belongings, neither should we know
the belongings of our belongings?
AL. Clearly not.
soc. Then we were not altogether
right in acknowledging just now that a
man may know what belongs to him
and yet not know himself; nay, rather,
he cannot even know the belongings of
his belongings; for the discernment of
the things of self, and of the things
which belong to the things of self, appear
all to be the business of the same man.
and of the same art.
AL. That is to be supposed.
SOC. And he who knows not the
things that belong to himself. will in like
manner be ignorant of the things which
belong to others?
AL. Very true.
Soc. And if he knows not the affairs
of others, he will not know the affairs of
states?
AL. Certainly not
SOC. Then such a man can never be a
statesman?
AL. He cannot.
soc. Nor an economist:
AL. He cannot.
Soc. He will not know what he is
doing?
AL. He will not.
Soc. And will not he who is ignorant
fall into error?
AL. Assuredly.
Soc. And if he errs, he will fail both
in his public and private capacity?
AL. Yes, indeed.
Soc. And failing, will he not be miser-
able?
AL. Very.
Soc. And what will become of those
for whom he is acting?
AL. They will be miserable also.
Soc. Then he who is not wise anC
good cannot be happy?
AL. He cannot.
Soc. The bad, then, are miserable:
AL. Yes, very.
, Soc. And not he who has riches, bu
he who has wisdom, is delivered from hi,
misery.
AL. Clearly.
Soc. Cities, then, if they are to be
= happy, do not want walls, or triremes
or docks, or numbers, or size, Alcibiades
if they have no virtue!
AL. Indeed they do not.
Soc. And you must give the citizens
virtue, if you mean to administer the
: affairs rightly or nobly?
Al. Certainly.
, Soc. But can man give that whicl
' he has not?
AL. Certainly not.
4 Soc. Then you or any one who mean
' to govern and superintend, not only him
self and the things of himself, but tn
D., state and the things of the state, must il
wv iilSb paw hNluilN VII tuN'
D Al. That is true.
= SOC. You have not therefore to nc
n quire power or authority, in order t,
y enable you to do what you wish for youl
self and the state, but justice and wis
dom?
o AL. That is true.
Il Soc. You and the state, if you d
y wisely and justly, will do according t
5 the will of God:
AL. That may be supposed.
h Soc. As | was saying before, yo
will look only at what is bright and d
vine, and act with view to them.
: AL. Yes.
Soc. In that mirror you will see an
It know yourselves and your own good.
AL. Yes.
It Soc. In which case, will be securit
n for your happiness.