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All these qualities, he replied, will certainly be required by

them.

Well, and your guardian must be brave if he is to fight well?

Certainly.

And is he likely to be brave who has no spirit, whether horse or

dog or any other animal? Have you never observed how invincible

and unconquerable is spirit and how the presence of it makes the

soul of any creature to be absolutely fearless and indomitable?

I have.

Then now we have a clear notion of the bodily qualities which are

required in the guardian.

True.

And also of the mental ones; his soul is to be full of spirit?

Yes.

But are not these spirited natures apt to be savage with one

another, and with everybody else?

A difficulty by no means easy to overcome, he replied.

Whereas, I said, they ought to be dangerous to their enemies, and

gentle to their friends; if not, they will destroy themselves

without waiting for their enemies to destroy them.

True, he said.