A measure of such things which in any degree falls short of the whole truth is not fair measure; for nothing imperfect is the measure of anything, although persons are too apt to be contented and think that they need search no further.
the Republic Of Platoby plato
And such men, you know, before finding out in what way something they desire can exist, put that question aside so they won’t grow weary deliberating about what’s possible and not.
For it is likely that if a city of good men came to be, there would be a fight over not ruling, just as there is now over ruling; and there it would become manifest that a true ruler really does not naturally consider his own advantage but rather that of the one who is ruled.
Yes, he said. But what is the character of the regime? And what are the mistakes which we were saying it contains? First, I said, the very thing that defines the regime is one. Reflect: if a man were to choose pilots of ships in that way — on the basis of property assessments — and wouldn’t entrust one to a poor man, even if he were a more skilled pilot — They would make a poor sailing, he said.
In the first days of his time in office, I said, doesn’t he smile at and greet whomever he meets, and not only deny he’s a tyrant but promise much in private and public, and grant freedom from debts and distribute land to the people and those around himself, and pretend to be gracious and gentle to all?
If life doesn’t seem livable with the body’s nature corrupted, not even with every sort of food and drink and every sort of wealth and every sort of rule, will it then be livable when the nature of that very thing by which we live is confused and corrupted, even if a man does whatever else he might want except that which will rid him of vice and injustice and will enable him to acquire justice and virtue?