[459b]
“From the best.” “And,
again, do you breed from the youngest or the oldest, or, so far as may be,
from those in their prime?” “From those in their
prime.” “And if they are not thus bred, you expect, do
you not, that your birds and hounds will greatly degenerate?”
“I do,” he said. “And what of horses and other
animals?” I said; “is it otherwise with them?”
“It would be strange if it were,” said he.
“Gracious,” said I, “dear friend, how
imperative, then, is our need of the highest skill in our rulers, if the
principle holds also for mankind.”
Plato. Plato in Twelve Volumes, Vols. 5 & 6 translated by Paul Shorey. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1969.
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