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Wealth, I said, and poverty; the one is the parent of luxury and

indolence, and the other of meanness and viciousness, and both of

discontent.

That is very true, he replied; but still I should like to know,

Socrates, how our city will be able to go to war, especially

against an enemy who is rich and powerful, if deprived of the

sinews of war.

There would certainly be a difficulty, I replied, in going to war

with one such enemy; but there is no difficulty where there are

two of them.

How so? he asked.

In the first place, I said, if we have to fight, our side will be

trained warriors fighting against an army of rich men.

That is true, he said.

And do you not suppose, Adeimantus, that a single boxer who was

perfect in his art would easily be a match for two stout and

well-to-do gentlemen who were not boxers?

Hardly, if they came upon him at once.