But perhaps the world will doubt the existence of such an artist.

What will they doubt?
That the philosopher is a lover of truth, having a nature akin to the best ?--and if they admit this will they still quarrel with us for making philosophers our kings?
'They will be less disposed to quarrel.' Let us assume then that they are pacified.

Still, a person may hesitate about the probability of the son of a king being a philosopher.
And we do not deny that they are very liable to be corrupted; but yet surely in the course of ages there might be one exception--and one is enough.

If one son of a king were a philosopher, and had obedient citizens, he might bring the ideal polity into being.

Hence we conclude that our laws are not only the best, but that they are also possible, though not free from difficulty.
I gained nothing by evading the troublesome questions which arose concerning women and children.