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beautiful or brave or the
like, as in the case we mentioned of competitors in a contest. 6.
Concord also seems to be a friendly feeling. Hence it is not merely agreement of opinion,
for this might exist even between strangers. Nor yet is agreement in reasoned judgements
about any subject whatever, for instance astronomy, termed concord; to agree about the
facts of astronomy is not a bond of friendship. Concord is said to prevail in a state,
when the citizens agree as to their interests, adopt the same policy, and carry their
common resolves into execution.
[2]
Concord then refers to
practical ends, and practical ends of importance, and able to be realized by both or all
the parties: for instance, there is concord in the state when the citizens unanimously
decree that the offices of state shall be elective, or that an alliance shall be made with
Sparta, or that Pittacus shall be dictator
(when Pittacus was himself willing to be dictator1). When each of two persons wishes himself to rule, like the
rivals2 in the
Phoenissae,3 there is discord; since men are not of one mind merely when each thinks the same
thing (whatever this may be) , but when each thinks the same thing in
relation to the same person: for instance, when both the common people
1 Pittacus was elected dictator of Mitylene early in the sixth century B.C.; he ruled for fourteen years, and then laid down his office. All the citizens wished him to continue, but this was not strictly unanimity or Concord, since there was one dissentient, Pittacus himself.
2 Eteocles and Polyneices.