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[495b] is the destruction and corruption1 of the most excellent nature, which is rare enough in any case,2 as we affirm. And it is from men of this type that those spring who do the greatest harm to communities and individuals, and the greatest good when the stream chances to be turned into that channel,3 but a small nature4 never does anything great to a man or a city.” “Most true,” said he.

1 Cf. 491 B-E, Laws 951 Bἀδιάφθαρτος, Xen.Mem. i. 2. 24.

2 For καὶ ἄλλως Cf. Il. ix. 699.

3 Cf. on 485 Dὥσπερ ῥεῦμα.

4 Cf. on 491 E, p. 33, note d.

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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