Page 173 sur 1391

First then, of wisdom: the State which we have called into being

will be wise because politic. And policy is one among many kinds

of skill,-not the skill of the carpenter, or of the worker in

metal, or of the husbandman, but the skill of him who advises

about the interests of the whole State. Of such a kind is the

skill of the guardians, who are a small class in number, far

smaller than the blacksmiths; but in them is concentrated the

wisdom of the State. And if this small ruling class have wisdom,

then the whole State will be wise.