[178a]
Theodorus
Certainly not.Socrates
And does it always hit the mark, or does every state often miss it?Theodorus
I should say they do often miss it!Socrates
Continuing, then, and proceeding from this point, every one would more readily agree to this assertion, if the question were asked concerning the whole class to which the advantageous belongs; and that whole class, it would seem, pertains to the future. For when we make laws, we make them with the idea that they will be advantageous in after time; and this is rightly called the future.
Certainly not.Socrates
And does it always hit the mark, or does every state often miss it?Theodorus
I should say they do often miss it!Socrates
Continuing, then, and proceeding from this point, every one would more readily agree to this assertion, if the question were asked concerning the whole class to which the advantageous belongs; and that whole class, it would seem, pertains to the future. For when we make laws, we make them with the idea that they will be advantageous in after time; and this is rightly called the future.
