Pagina 209 van 1391

'But how shall we know the degrees of affinity, when all things

are common?' The answer is, that brothers and sisters are all

such as are born seven or nine months after the espousals, and

their parents those who are then espoused, and every one will

have many children and every child many parents.

Socrates proceeds: I have now to prove that this scheme is

advantageous and also consistent with our entire polity. The

greatest good of a State is unity; the greatest evil, discord and

distraction. And there will be unity where there are no private

pleasures or pains or interests-where if one member suffers all

the members suffer, if one citizen is touched all are quickly

sensitive; and the least hurt to the little finger of the State

runs through the whole body and vibrates to the soul. For the

true State, like an individual, is injured as a whole when any

part is affected. Every State has subjects and rulers, who in a

democracy are called rulers, and in other States masters: but in

our State they are called saviours and allies; and the subjects

who in other States are termed slaves, are by us termed nurturers

and paymasters, and those who are termed comrades and colleagues

in other places, are by us called fathers and brothers.