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I will tell you, I replied; justice, which is the subject of our

enquiry, is, as you know, sometimes spoken of as the virtue of an

individual, and sometimes as the virtue of a State.

True, he replied.

And is not a State larger than an individual?

It is.

Then in the larger the quantity of justice is likely to be larger

and more easily discernible. I propose therefore that we enquire

into the nature of justice and injustice, first as they appear in

the State, and secondly in the individual, proceeding from the

greater to the lesser and comparing them.

That, he said, is an excellent proposal.

And if we imagine the State in process of creation, we shall see

the justice and injustice of the State in process of creation

also.

I dare say.

When the State is completed there may be a hope that the object

of our search will be more easily discovered.

Yes, far more easily.