[494a]
is impossible for the multitude.1”
“Impossible.” “It is inevitable,2 then, that those who philosophize should be censured by
them.” “Inevitable.” “And so
likewise by those laymen who, associating with the mob, desire to curry
favor3 with it.”
“Obviously.” “From this point of view do you
see any salvation that will suffer the born philosopher to abide in the
pursuit and persevere to the end? Consider it in the light of what we said
before.
1 A commonplace of Plato and all intellectual idealists. Cf. 503 B, Polit. 292 E, 297 B, 300 E. Novotny, Plato's Epistles, p. 87, uses this to support his view that Plato had a secret doctrine. Adam quotes Gorg. 474 Aτοῖς δὲ πολλοῖς οὐδὲ διαλέγομαι, which is not quite relevant. Cf. Renan, Etudes d'histoire relig. p. 403 “La philosophie sera toujours le fait d'une imperceptible minorité,” etc.
2 It is psychologically necessary. Cf. supra, Vol. 1. on 473 E. Cf. 527 A, Laws 655 E, 658 E, 681 C, 687 C, Phaedr. 239 C, 271 B, Crito 49 D.
3 Cf. Gorg. 481 E, 510 D, 513 B.
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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