CodalSearch this book — or all of Codal…⌘K
nydus/The Republic of PlatoPublic
Page 261 of 792
Table of Contents

BOOK IV.

And so of the individual; we may assume that he has the same three principles in his own soul which are found in the State; and he may be rightly described in the same terms, because he is affected in the same manner?

Certainly, he said.

How can we decide whether or no the soul has three distinct principles? Once more then, O my friend, we have alighted upon an easy question—whether the soul has these three principles or not?

An easy question! Nay, rather, Socrates, the proverb holds that hard is the good.

Very true, I said; and I do not think that the method which we are employing is at all adequate to the accurate solution of this question; Our method is inadequate, and for a better and longer one

261