[486a]
the philosophical from the unphilosophical
nature.” “What point?” “You must not
overlook any touch of illiberality.1 For nothing can be more contrary
than such pettiness to the quality of a soul that is ever to seek integrity
and wholeness2 in
all things human and divine.” “Most true,” he
said. “Do you think that a mind habituated to thoughts of grandeur
and the contemplation of all time and all existence3 can deem this
life of man a thing of great concern4?” “Impossible,” said he.
1 Cf. Theaet. 144 Dχρημάτων ἐλευθεριότητα.
2 Cf. Goethe's “Im Ganzen, Guten, Schönen resolut zu leben.”
3 Cf. Theaet. 174 E, of the philosopher,εἰς ἅπασαν εἰωθὼς τὴν γῆν βλέπειν, and 173 E, 500 B-C. Cf. Marc. Aurel. vii. 35, Livy xxiv. 34 “Archimedes is erat unicus spectator caeli siderumque,” Mayor, Cic. De nat. deor. ii. p. 128. For πᾶς χρόνος cf. infra 498 D, 608 C, Phaedo 107 C, Gorg. 525 C, Apol. 40 E, Tim. 36 E, 47 B, 90 D. Cf. Isoc. i. 11, Pindar, Pyth. i. 46.
4 Cf. Aristot.Eth. Nic. 1123 b 32, the great-souled man,ᾦ γ᾽ οὐδὲν μέγα, Diog. Laert. vii. 128πάντων ὑπεράνω, Cic.De fin. iii. 8 “infra se omnia humana ducens.” Cf. on 500 B-C. For similar pessimistic utterances about human life and mankind cf. 604 B-C, 496 D-E, 500 B-C, 516 D, Laws 803 B. Cf. also Laws 708 E-709 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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