Sayfa 229 / 1391

BOOK VI. Having determined that the many have no knowledge of

true being, and have no clear patterns in their minds of justice,

beauty, truth, and that philosophers have such patterns, we have

now to ask whether they or the many shall be rulers in our State.

But who can doubt that philosophers should be chosen, if they

have the other qualities which are required in a ruler? For they

are lovers of the knowledge of the eternal and of all truth; they

are haters of falsehood; their meaner desires are absorbed in the

interests of knowledge; they are spectators of all time and all

existence; and in the magnificence of their contemplation the

life of man is as nothing to them, nor is death fearful. Also

they are of a social, gracious disposition, equally free from

cowardice and arrogance. They learn and remember easily; they

have harmonious, well-regulated minds; truth flows to them

sweetly by nature. Can the god of Jealousy himself find any fault

with such an assemblage of good qualities?