Socrates—And what belongs to man, man may dispose of as he will.
Phædo—All men agree to that.
Socrates—And, therefore, since Hippocrates has found a vacant space on the earth and taken possession thereof, and no man disputes his possession, it is his and he may sell it.
Phædo—That is certainly true, and I do not doubt that Hipparchus will now pay down his talent of silver and take over the vale in the Olympian forest.
Socrates—And if instead of finding an island the company of men had found an entire continent it would be theirs if they were strong enough to keep it.
Phædo—Surely that is so, for power is but concentrated ability to enjoy, and where most power lies, there lies most ability to enjoy, and therefore the highest possible aggregate of human happiness, in the attainment of which the will of the gods shall be done.
Socrates—And if a company can take part of a continent, but not the whole, whatever they are able to take is theirs.
Phædo—Undoubtedly.
Socrates—And what is theirs is not the property of others.
Phædo—By no means.