第25章

Itwillbeclearenoughthenthatinhisordinarydealingswhichgivehimareputationforhonestyhecoerceshisbadpassionsbyanenforcedvirtue；notmakingthemseethattheyarewrong，ortamingthembyreason，butbynecessityandfearconstrainingthem，andbecausehetremblesforhispossessions。 Tobesure。 Yes，indeed，mydearfriend，butyouwillfindthatthenaturaldesiresofthedronecommonlyexistinhimallthesamewheneverhehastospendwhatisnothisown。 Yes，andtheywillbestronginhimtoo。 Theman，then，willbeatwarwithhimself；hewillbetwomen，andnotone；but，ingeneral，hisbetterdesireswillbefoundtoprevailoverhisinferiorones。 True。 Forthesereasonssuchanonewillbemorerespectablethanmostpeople；yetthetruevirtueofaunanimousandharmonioussoulwillfleefarawayandnevercomenearhim。 Ishouldexpectso。 Andsurely，themiserindividuallywillbeanignoblecompetitorinaStateforanyprizeofvictory，orotherobjectofhonourableambition；hewillnotspendhismoneyinthecontestforglory；soafraidisheofawakeninghisexpensiveappetitesandinvitingthemtohelpandjoininthestruggle；intrueoligarchicalfashionhefightswithasmallpartonlyofhisresources，andtheresultcommonlyisthathelosestheprizeandsaveshismoney。 Verytrue。 Canweanylongerdoubt，then，thatthemiserandmoney—makeranswerstotheoligarchicalState？ Therecanbenodoubt。 Nextcomesdemocracy；ofthistheoriginandnaturehavestilltobeconsideredbyus；andthenwewillenquireintothewaysofthedemocraticman，andbringhimupforjudgement。 That，hesaid，isourmethod。 Well，Isaid，andhowdoesthechangefromoligarchyintodemocracyarise？Isitnotonthiswise？——ThegoodatwhichsuchaStatealmsistobecomeasrichaspossible，adesirewhichisinsatiable？ Whatthen？ Therulers，beingawarethattheirpowerrestsupontheirwealth，refusetocurtailbylawtheextravaganceofthespendthriftyouthbecausetheygainbytheirruin；theytakeinterestfromthemandbuyuptheirestatesandthusincreasetheirownwealthandimportance？ Tobesure。 TherecanbenodoubtthattheloveofwealthandthespiritofmoderationcannotexisttogetherincitizensofthesameStatetoanyconsiderableextent；oneortheotherwillbedisregarded。 Thatistolerablyclear。 AndinoligarchicalStates，fromthegeneralspreadofcarelessnessandextravagance，menofgoodfamilyhaveoftenbeenreducedtobeggary？ Yes，often。 Andstilltheyremaininthecity；theretheyare，readytostingandfullyarmed，andsomeofthemowemoney，somehaveforfeitedtheircitizenship；athirdclassareinbothpredicaments；andtheyhateandconspireagainstthosewhohavegottheirproperty，andagainsteverybodyelse，andareeagerforrevolution。 Thatistrue。 Ontheotherhand，themenofbusiness，stoopingastheywalk，andpretendingnoteventoseethosewhomtheyhavealreadyruined，inserttheirsting——thatis，theirmoney——intosomeoneelsewhoisnotonhisguardagainstthem，andrecovertheparentsummanytimesovermultipliedintoafamilyofchildren：andsotheymakedroneandpaupertoaboundintheState。 Yes，hesaid，thereareplentyofthem——thatiscertain。 Theevilblazesuplikeafire；andtheywillnotextinguishit，eitherbyrestrictingaman’suseofhisownproperty，orbyanotherremedy： Whatother？ Onewhichisthenextbest，andhastheadvantageofcompellingthecitizenstolooktotheircharacters：——Lettherebeageneralrulethateveryoneshallenterintovoluntarycontractsathisownrisk，andtherewillbelessofthisscandalousmoney—making，andtheevilsofwhichwewerespeakingwillbegreatlylessenedintheState。 Yes，theywillbegreatlylessened。 Atpresentthegovernors，inducedbythemotiveswhichIhavenamed，treattheirsubjectsbadly；whiletheyandtheiradherents，especiallytheyoungmenofthegoverningclass，arehabituatedtoleadalifeofluxuryandidlenessbothofbodyandmind；theydonothing，andareincapableofresistingeitherpleasureorpain。 Verytrue。 Theythemselvescareonlyformakingmoney，andareasindifferentasthepaupertothecultivationofvirtue。 Yes，quiteasindifferent。 Suchisthestateofaffairswhichprevailsamongthem。Andoftenrulersandtheirsubjectsmaycomeinoneanother’sway，whetheronapilgrimageoramarch，asfellow—soldiersorfellow—sailors；aye，andtheymayobservethebehaviourofeachotherintheverymomentofdanger——forwheredangeris，thereisnofearthatthepoorwillbedespisedbytherich——andverylikelythewirysunburntpoormanmaybeplacedinbattleatthesideofawealthyonewhohasneverspoilthiscomplexionandhasplentyofsuperfluousflesh——whenheseessuchanonepuffingandathiswit’send，howcanheavoiddrawingtheconclusionthatmenlikehimareonlyrichbecausenoonehasthecouragetodespoilthem？Andwhentheymeetinprivatewillnotpeoplebesayingtooneanother’Ourwarriorsarenotgoodformuch’？ Yes，hesaid，Iamquiteawarethatthisistheirwayoftalking。 And，asinabodywhichisdiseasedtheadditionofatouchfromwithoutmaybringonillness，andsometimesevenwhenthereisnoexternalprovocationacommotionmayarisewithin—inthesamewaywhereverthereisweaknessintheStatethereisalsolikelytobeillness，ofwhichtheoccasionsmaybeveryslight，theonepartyintroducingfromwithouttheiroligarchical，theothertheirdemocraticalallies，andthentheStatefallssick，andisatwarwithherself；andmaybeattimesdistracted，evenwhenthereisnoexternalcause。 Yes，surely。 Andthendemocracycomesintobeingafterthepoorhaveconqueredtheiropponents，slaughteringsomeandbanishingsome，whiletotheremaindertheygiveanequalshareoffreedomandpower；andthisistheformofgovernmentinwhichthemagistratesarecommonlyelectedbylot。 Yes，hesaid，thatisthenatureofdemocracy，whethertherevolutionhasbeeneffectedbyarms，orwhetherfearhascausedtheoppositepartytowithdraw。 Andnowwhatistheirmanneroflife，andwhatsortofagovernmenthavethey？forasthegovernmentis，suchwillbetheman。 Clearly，hesaid。 Inthefirstplace，aretheynotfree；andisnotthecityfulloffreedomandfrankness——amanmaysayanddowhathelikes？ ’Tissaidso，hereplied。 Andwherefreedomis，theindividualisclearlyabletoorderforhimselfhisownlifeashepleases？ Clearly。 TheninthiskindofStatetherewillbethegreatestvarietyofhumannatures？ Therewill。 This，then，seemslikelytobethefairestofStates，beinganembroideredrobewhichisspangledwitheverysortofflower。Andjustaswomenandchildrenthinkavarietyofcolourstobeofallthingsmostcharming，sotherearemanymentowhomthisState，whichisspangledwiththemannersandcharactersofmankind，willappeartobethefairestofStates。 Yes。 Yes，mygoodSir，andtherewillbenobetterinwhichtolookforagovernment。 Why？ Becauseofthelibertywhichreignsthere——theyhaveacompleteassortmentofconstitutions；andhewhohasamindtoestablishaState，aswehavebeendoing，mustgotoademocracyashewouldtoabazaaratwhichtheysellthem，andpickouttheonethatsuitshim； then，whenhehasmadehischoice，hemayfoundhisState。 Hewillbesuretohavepatternsenough。 Andtherebeingnonecessity，Isaid，foryoutogoverninthisState，evenifyouhavethecapacity，ortobegoverned，unlessyoulike，orgotowarwhentherestgotowar，ortobeatpeacewhenothersareatpeace，unlessyouaresodisposed——therebeingnonecessityalso，becausesomelawforbidsyoutoholdofficeorbeadicast，thatyoushouldnotholdofficeorbeadicast，ifyouhaveafancy——isnotthisawayoflifewhichforthemomentissupremelydelightfulForthemoment，yes。 Andisnottheirhumanitytothecondemnedinsomecasesquitecharming？Haveyounotobservedhow，inademocracy，manypersons，althoughtheyhavebeensentencedtodeathorexile，juststaywheretheyareandwalkabouttheworld——thegentlemanparadeslikeahero，andnobodyseesorcares？ Yes，hereplied，manyandmanyaone。 Seetoo，Isaid，theforgivingspiritofdemocracy，andthe’don’tcare’abouttrifles，andthedisregardwhichsheshowsofallthefineprincipleswhichwesolemnlylaiddownatthefoundationofthecity——aswhenwesaidthat，exceptinthecaseofsomerarelygiftednature，thereneverwillbeagoodmanwhohasnotfromhischildhoodbeenusedtoplayamidthingsofbeautyandmakeofthemajoyandastudy——howgrandlydoesshetrampleallthesefinenotionsofoursunderherfeet，nevergivingathoughttothepursuitswhichmakeastatesman，andpromotingtohonouranyonewhoprofessestobethepeople’sfriend。 Yes，sheisofanoblespirit。 Theseandotherkindredcharacteristicsarepropertodemocracy，whichisacharmingformofgovernment，fullofvarietyanddisorder，anddispensingasortofequalitytoequalsandunequalsalike。 Weknowherwell。 Considernow，Isaid，whatmannerofmantheindividualis，orratherconsider，asinthecaseoftheState，howhecomesintobeing。 Verygood，hesaid。 Isnotthistheway——heisthesonofthemiserlyandoligarchicalfatherwhohastrainedhiminhisownhabits？ Exactly。 And，likehisfather，hekeepsunderbyforcethepleasureswhichareofthespendingandnotofthegettingsort，beingthosewhicharecalledunnecessary？ Obviously。 Wouldyoulike，forthesakeofclearness，todistinguishwhicharethenecessaryandwhicharetheunnecessarypleasures？ Ishould。 Arenotnecessarypleasuresthoseofwhichwecannotgetrid，andofwhichthesatisfactionisabenefittous？Andtheyarerightlyso，becauseweareframedbynaturetodesirebothwhatisbeneficialandwhatisnecessary，andcannothelpit。 True。 Wearenotwrongthereforeincallingthemnecessary？ Wearenot。 Andthedesiresofwhichamanmaygetrid，ifhetakespainsfromhisyouthupwards——ofwhichthepresence，moreover，doesnogood，andinsomecasesthereverseofgood——shallwenotberightinsayingthatalltheseareunnecessary？ Yes，certainly。 Supposeweselectanexampleofeitherkind，inorderthatwemayhaveageneralnotionofthem？ Verygood。 Willnotthedesireofeating，thatis，ofsimplefoodandcondiments，insofarastheyarerequiredforhealthandstrength，beofthenecessaryclass？ ThatiswhatIshouldsuppose。 Thepleasureofeatingisnecessaryintwoways；itdoesusgoodanditisessentialtothecontinuanceoflife？ Yes。 Butthecondimentsareonlynecessaryinsofarastheyaregoodforhealth？ Certainly。 Andthedesirewhichgoesbeyondthis，ormoredelicatefood，orotherluxuries，whichmightgenerallybegotridof，ifcontrolledandtrainedinyouth，andishurtfultothebody，andhurtfultothesoulinthepursuitofwisdomandvirtue，mayberightlycalledunnecessary？ Verytrue。 Maywenotsaythatthesedesiresspend，andthattheothersmakemoneybecausetheyconducetoproduction？ Certainly。 Andofthepleasuresoflove，andallotherpleasures，thesameholdsgood？ True。 Andthedroneofwhomwespokewashewhowassurfeitedinpleasuresanddesiresofthissort，andwastheslaveoftheunnecessarydesires，whereashewhowassubjectothenecessaryonlywasmiserlyandoligarchical？ Verytrue。 Again，letusseehowthedemocraticalmangrowsoutoftheoligarchical：thefollowing，asIsuspect，iscommonlytheprocess。 Whatistheprocess？ Whenayoungmanwhohasbeenbroughtupaswewerejustnowdescribing，inavulgarandmiserlyway，hastasteddrones’honeyandhascometoassociatewithfierceandcraftynatureswhoareabletoprovideforhimallsortsofrefinementsandvarietiesofpleasure——then，asyoumayimagine，thechangewillbeginoftheoligarchicalprinciplewithinhimintothedemocratical？ Inevitably。 Andasinthecitylikewashelpinglike，andthechangewaseffectedbyanalliancefromwithoutassistingonedivisionofthecitizens，sotootheyoungmanischangedbyaclassofdesirescomingfromwithouttoassistthedesireswithinhim，thatwhichisandalikeagainhelpingthatwhichisakinandalike？ Certainly。 Andiftherebeanyallywhichaidstheoligarchicalprinciplewithinhim，whethertheinfluenceofafatherorofkindred，advisingorrebukinghim，thentherearisesinhissoulafactionandanoppositefaction，andhegoestowarwithhimself。 Itmustbeso。 Andtherearetimeswhenthedemocraticalprinciplegiveswaytotheoligarchical，andsomeofhisdesiresdie，andothersarebanished； aspiritofreverenceentersintotheyoungman’ssoulandorderisrestored。 Yes，hesaid，thatsometimeshappens。 Andthen，again，aftertheolddesireshavebeendrivenout，freshonesspringup，whichareakintothem，andbecausehe，theirfather，doesnotknowhowtoeducatethem，waxfierceandnumerous。 Yes，hesaid，thatisapttobetheway。 Theydrawhimtohisoldassociates，andholdingsecretintercoursewiththem，breedandmultiplyinhim。 Verytrue。 Atlengththeyseizeuponthecitadeloftheyoungman’ssoul，whichtheyperceivetobevoidofallaccomplishmentsandfairpursuitsandtruewords，whichmaketheirabodeinthemindsofmenwhoaredeartothegods，andaretheirbestguardiansandsentinels。 Nonebetter。 Falseandboastfulconceitsandphrasesmountupwardsandtaketheirplace。 Theyarecertaintodoso。 Andsotheyoungmanreturnsintothecountryofthelotus—eaters，andtakesuphisdwellingthereinthefaceofallmen；andifanyhelpbesentbyhisfriendstotheoligarchicalpartofhim，theaforesaidvainconceitsshutthegateoftheking’sfastness；andtheywillneitherallowtheembassyitselftoenter，privateifprivateadvisersofferthefatherlycounseloftheagedwilltheylistentothemorreceivethem。Thereisabattleandtheygaintheday，andthenmodesty，whichtheycallsilliness，isignominiouslythrustintoexilebythem，andtemperance，whichtheynicknameunmanliness，istrampledinthemireandcastforth；theypersuadementhatmoderationandorderlyexpenditurearevulgarityandmeanness，andso，bythehelpofarabbleofevilappetites，theydrivethembeyondtheborder。 Yes，withawill。 Andwhentheyhaveemptiedandsweptcleanthesoulofhimwhoisnowintheirpowerandwhoisbeinginitiatedbythemingreatmysteries，thenextthingistobringbacktotheirhouseinsolenceandanarchyandwasteandimpudenceinbrightarrayhavinggarlandsontheirheads，andagreatcompanywiththem，hymningtheirpraisesandcallingthembysweetnames；insolencetheytermbreeding，andanarchyliberty，andwastemagnificence，andimpudencecourage。Andsotheyoungmanpassesoutofhisoriginalnature，whichwastrainedintheschoolofnecessity，intothefreedomandlibertinismofuselessandunnecessarypleasures。 Yes，hesaid，thechangeinhimisvisibleenough。 Afterthisheliveson，spendinghismoneyandlabourandtimeonunnecessarypleasuresquiteasmuchasonnecessaryones；butifhebefortunate，andisnottoomuchdisorderedinhiswits，whenyearshaveelapsed，andtheheydayofpassionisover——supposingthathethenre—admitsintothecitysomepartoftheexiledvirtues，anddoesnotwhollygivehimselfuptotheirsuccessors——inthatcasehebalanceshispleasuresandlivesinasortofequilibrium，puttingthegovernmentofhimselfintothehandsoftheonewhichcomesfirstandwinstheturn；andwhenhehashadenoughofthat，thenintothehandsofanother；hedespisesnoneofthembutencouragesthemallequally。 Verytrue，hesaid。 Neitherdoeshereceiveorletpassintothefortressanytruewordofadvice；ifanyonesaystohimthatsomepleasuresarethesatisfactionsofgoodandnobledesires，andothersofevildesires，andthatheoughttouseandhonoursomeandchastiseandmastertheothers——wheneverthisisrepeatedtohimheshakeshisheadandsaysthattheyareallalike，andthatoneisasgoodasanother。 Yes，hesaid；thatisthewaywithhim。 Yes，Isaid，helivesfromdaytodayindulgingtheappetiteofthehour；andsometimesheislappedindrinkandstrainsoftheflute；thenhebecomesawater—drinker，andtriestogetthin；thenhetakesaturnatgymnastics；sometimesidlingandneglectingeverything，thenoncemorelivingthelifeofaphilosopher；oftenhe—isbusywithpolitics，andstartstohisfeetandsaysanddoeswhatevercomesintohishead；and，ifheisemulousofanyonewhoisawarrior，offheisinthatdirection，orofmenofbusiness，oncemoreinthat。Hislifehasneitherlawnororder；andthisdistractedexistencehetermsjoyandblissandfreedom；andsohegoeson。 Yes，hereplied，heisalllibertyandequality。 Yes，Isaid；hislifeismotleyandmanifoldandanepitomeofthelivesofmany；——heanswerstotheStatewhichwedescribedasfairandspangled。Andmanyamanandmanyawomanwilltakehimfortheirpattern，andmanyaconstitutionandmanyanexampleofmannersiscontainedinhim。 Justso。 Lethimthenbesetoveragainstdemocracy；hemaytrulybecalledthedemocraticman。 Letthatbehisplace，hesaid。 Lastofallcomesthemostbeautifulofall，manandStatealike，tyrannyandthetyrant；thesewehavenowtoconsider。 Quitetrue，hesaid。