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The meaning is, I believe, that in the human soul there is a

better and also a worse principle; and when the better has the

worse under control, then a man is said to be master of himself;

and this is a term of praise: but when, owing to evil education

or association, the better principle, which is also the smaller,

is overwhelmed by the greater mass of the worse-in this case he

is blamed and is called the slave of self and unprincipled.

Yes, there is reason in that.

And now, I said, look at our newly-created State, and there you

will find one of these two conditions realized; for the State, as

you will acknowledge, may be justly called master of itself, if

the words 'temperance' and 'self-mastery' truly express the rule

of the better part over the worse.

Yes, he said, I see that what you say is true.