[468e]
Socrates
Can such a man then be said to have great power in that city, if to have great power is something good, according to your admission?Polus
He cannot.Socrates
Then I spoke the truth when I said that it is possible for a man to do what he thinks fit in a city and yet not to have great power nor to do what he wishes.Polus
As if you, Socrates, would not accept the liberty of doing what you think fit in your city rather than not, and would not envy a man whom you observed to have put some one to death as he thought fit, or deprived him of his property or sent him to prison!Socrates
Justly, do you mean, or unjustly?
Can such a man then be said to have great power in that city, if to have great power is something good, according to your admission?Polus
He cannot.Socrates
Then I spoke the truth when I said that it is possible for a man to do what he thinks fit in a city and yet not to have great power nor to do what he wishes.Polus
As if you, Socrates, would not accept the liberty of doing what you think fit in your city rather than not, and would not envy a man whom you observed to have put some one to death as he thought fit, or deprived him of his property or sent him to prison!Socrates
Justly, do you mean, or unjustly?
