What is true of individuals is true also of communities. (44) That state which in ignorance of its power goes to war with a stronger than itself ends by being uprooted or else reduced to slavery.
(44) Or, more lit. "A law which applies, you will observe, to bodies
politic."
Thereupon Euthydemus: Be assured I fully concur in your opinion; the precept KNOW THYSELF cannot be too highly valued; but what is the application? What the starting-point of self-examination? I look to you for an explanation, if you would kindly give one. (45)
(45) Or, "at what point to commence the process of self-inspection?—
there is the mystery. I look to you, if you are willing, to
interpret it."
Well (replied Socrates), I presume you know quite well the distinction between good and bad things: your knowledge may be relied upon so far?
Why, yes, to be sure (replied the youth); for without that much discernment I should indeed be worse than any slave. (46)
(46) Lit. "if I did not know even that."
Come then (said he), do you give me an explanation of the things so termed.
That is fortunately not hard (replied the youth). First of all, health in itself I hold to be a good, and disease in itself an evil; and in the next place the sources of either of those aforenamed, meats and drinks, and habits of life, (47) I regard as good or evil according as they contribute either to health or to disease.
(47) Or, "pursuits and occupations"; "manners and customs."