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ἐπαίνους, ψόγους: the people not only makes laws,—i.e. commands and prohibitions, the transgression of which is punished by penalties,—but also expresses in manifold ways, by offices, honors, etc., its judgment on the value of men and actions. Another case of explanatory asyndeton.

ἐρρωμενεστέρους: how completely this word has become an adjective is shown by the fact that it is the only partic. which admits comparison.

πλεονεκτεῖν: is an expression for every effort of self-aggrandizement, and was often used as a political watchword in opposition to ἰσονομία. Cf. τὸ ἴσον, two lines below.

ἀγαπῶσι: in mockery, because satisfaction is a sign of weakness. Cf. what Adimantus says in Rep. ii. 366 c οἶδεν ὅτι πλὴν εἴ τις θείᾳ φύσει δυσχεραίνων τὸ ἀδικεῖν ἐπιστήμην λαβὼν ἀπέχεται αὐτοῦ, τῶν γε ἄλλων οὐδεὶς ἑκὼν δίκαιος, ἀλλ̓ ὑπὸ ἀνανδρίας γήρως τινος ἄλλης ἀσθενείας ψέγει τὸ ἀδικεῖν, ἀδυνατῶν αὐτὸ δρᾶν.—

τὸ ἴσον: Callicles is thinking of the fundamental principle of democratic states, the ἰσονομία and ἰσότης of all.

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