第902页 / 共1391页

Yes, I replied, in the form of amusement; and at first sight it

appears harmless.

Why, yes, he said, and there is no harm; were it not that little

by little this spirit of licence, finding a home, imperceptibly

penetrates into manners and customs; whence, issuing with greater

force, it invades contracts between man and man, and from

contracts goes on to laws and constitutions, in utter

recklessness, ending at last, Socrates, by an overthrow of all

rights, private as well as public.

Is that true? I said.

That is my belief, he replied.

Then, as I was saying, our youth should be trained from the first

in a stricter system, for if amusements become lawless, and the

youths themselves become lawless, they can never grow up into

well-conducted and virtuous citizens.

Very true, he said.