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It is the knowledge of the guardians, he replied, and is found

among those whom we were just now describing as perfect

guardians.

And what is the name which the city derives from the possession

of this sort of knowledge?

The name of good in counsel and truly wise.

And will there be in our city more of these true guardians or

more smiths?

The smiths, he replied, will be far more numerous.

Will not the guardians be the smallest of all the classes who

receive a name from the profession of some kind of knowledge?

Much the smallest.

And so by reason of the smallest part or class, and of the

knowledge which resides in this presiding and ruling part of

itself, the whole State, being thus constituted according to

nature, will be wise; and this, which has the only knowledge

worthy to be called wisdom, has been ordained by nature to be of

all classes the least.

Most true.

Thus, then, I said, the nature and place in the State of one of

the four virtues has somehow or other been discovered.