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And there will be the same equality between the terms

representing the persons, as between those representing the

things: because as the latter are to one another so are the

former: for if the persons are not equal they must not have equal

shares; in fact this is the very source of all the quarrelling

and wrangling in the world, when either they who are equal have

and get awarded to them things not equal, or being not equal

those things which are equal. Again, the necessity of this

equality of ratios is shown by the common phrase "according to

rate," for all agree that the Just in distributions ought to be

according to some rate: but what that rate is to be, all do not

agree; the democrats are for freedom, oligarchs for wealth,

others for nobleness of birth, and the aristocratic party for

virtue.