republic (books 1 - 5)   

And what would you say of the physician? In prescribing
meats and drinks would he wish to go beyond another physician
or beyond the practice of medicine?

He would not.

But he would wish to go beyond the non-physician?

Yes.

And about knowledge and ignorance in general; see whether
you think that any man who has knowledge ever would wish to
have the choice of saying or doing more than another man who
has knowledge. Would he not rather say or do the same as his
like in the same case?

That, I suppose, can hardly be denied.

And what of the ignorant? would he not desire to have more
than either the knowing or the ignorant?

I dare say.

And the knowing is wise?

Yes.

And the wise is good?

True.

Then the wise and good will not desire to gain more than his
like, but more than his unlike and opposite?

I suppose so.

Whereas the bad and ignorant will desire to gain more than
both?

Yes.

But did we not say, Thrasymachus, that the unjust goes be-
yond both his like and unlike? Were not these your words?

They were.

And you also said that the just will not go beyond his like,
but his unlike?

Yes.

Then the just is like the wise and good, and the unjust like
the evil and ignorant?

That is the inference.

And each of them is such as his like is?

That was admitted.

Then the just has turned out to be wise and good, and the
unjust evil and ignorant.

Thrasymachus made all these admissions, not fluently, as I