Page 645 of 734

Of course, the best thing would be that there should be a right

Public System and that we should be able to carry it out: but,

since as a public matter those points are neglected, the duty

would seem to devolve upon each individual to contribute to the

cause of Virtue with his own children and friends, or at least to

make this his aim and purpose: and this, it would seem, from what

has been said, he will be best able to do by making a Legislator

of himself: since all public systems, it is plain, are formed by

the instrumentality of laws and those are good which are formed

by that of good laws: whether they are written or unwritten,

whether they are applied to the training of one or many, will

not, it seems, make any difference, just as it does not in music,

gymnastics, or any other such accomplishments, which are gained

by practice.