"'I would,' answered Glaucon.
"Socrates replied, 'Would not the way to enrich the republic be to increase its revenue?'
"'It is very likely it would,' answered Glaucon.
"'Tell me, then, in what consists the revenue of the state, and to how much it may amount? I presume you have particularly studied this matter, to the end that, if anything should be lost on one hand, you might know where to make it good on another; and that, if a fund should fail on a sudden, you might immediately be able to settle another in its place?'
"'I protest,' answered Glaucon, 'I have never thought of this.'
"'Tell me, at least, the expenses of the republic, for no doubt you intend to retrench the superfluous?'
"'I never thought of this either,' said Glaucon.
"'You were best, then, to put off to another time your design of enriching the republic, which you can never be able to do while you are ignorant both of its expenses and revenue.'
"'There is another way to enrich a state,' said Glaucon, 'of which you take no notice; and that is, by the ruin [spoils] of its enemies.'
"'You are in the right,' answered Socrates; 'but to this end it is necessary to be stronger than they, otherwise we shall run the hazard of losing what we have. He, therefore, who talks of undertaking a war, ought to know the strength on both sides, to the end that, if his party be the stronger, he may boldly advise for war, and that, if it be the weaker, he may dissuade the people from engaging themselves in so dangerous an enterprise.'