‘Will not, then, the man of understanding, gather all that is in him, and stretch himself like a bent bow to this aim of life; and, in the first place, honour studies which thus chastise and deliver his soul in perfection; and despise others?’
‘Clearly,’ he said.
‘In the next place, he will keep under his body, and so far will he be from yielding to brutal and irrational pleasure,[3] that he will not even first look to bodily health as his main object, nor desire to be fair, or strong, or well, unless he is likely thereby to gain temperance; [[15]]but he will be always desirous of preserving the harmony of the body for the sake of the concord of the soul?’
‘Certainly,’ he replied, ‘that he will, if he is indeed taught by the Muses.’
‘And he will also observe the principle of classing and concord in the acquisition of wealth; and will not, because the mob beatify him, increase his endless load of wealth to his own infinite harm?’
‘I think not,’ he said.
‘He will look at the city which is within him, and take care to avoid any change of his own institutions, such as might arise either from abundance or from want; and he will duly regulate his acquisition and expense, in so far as he is able?’
‘Very true.’
‘And, for the same reason, he will accept such honours as he deems likely to make him a better man; but those which are likely to loosen his possessed habit, whether private or public honours, he will avoid?’
‘Then, if this be his chief care, he will not be a politician?’