But they cannot be allowed to live in licentiousness; that is an unholy thing, which the rulers are determined to prevent.

For the avoidance of this, holy marriage festivals will be instituted, and their holiness will be in proportion to their usefulness.

And here, Glaucon, I should like to ask (as I know that you are a breeder of birds and animals), Do you not take the greatest care in the mating?
'Certainly.' And there is no reason to suppose that less care is required in the marriage of human beings.

But then our rulers must be skilful physicians of the State, for they will often need a strong dose of falsehood in order to bring about desirable unions between their subjects.

The good must be paired with the good, and the bad with the bad, and the offspring of the one must be reared, and of the other destroyed; in this way the flock will be preserved in prime condition.