PRAXAGORA. I tell you that we are all to share alike and have everything in common, instead of one being rich and another poor, and one having hundreds of acres and another not enough to make him a grave, and one a houseful of servants and another not even a paltry foot-boy. I am going to introduce communism and universal equality.
BLEPSYRUS. How communism?
PRAX. That's just what I was going to tell you. First of all, everybody's money and land and anything else he may possess will be made common property. Then we shall maintain you all out of the common stock, with due regard to economy and thrift.
BLEPS. But how about those who have no land, but only money that they can hide?
PRAX. It will all go to the public purse. To keep anything back will be perjury.
BLEPS. Perjury! Well, if you come to that, it was by perjury it was all acquired.
PRAX. And then, money won't be the least use to any one.
BLEPS. Why not?
PRAX. Because nobody will be poor. Everybody will have everything he wants, bread, salt-fish, barley-cake, clothes, wine, garlands, chickpeas. So what will be the good of keeping anything back? Answer that if you can!
BLEPS. Isn't it just the people who have all these things that are the greatest thieves?