But the future life is present still; the ideal of politics is to be realized in the individual.
BOOK X.Many things pleased me in the order of our State, but there was nothing which I liked better than the regulation about poetry.

The division of the soul throws a new light on our exclusion of imitation.
I do not mind telling you in confidence that all poetry is an outrage on the understanding, unless the hearers have that balm of knowledge which heals error.

I have loved Homer ever since I was a boy, and even now he appears to me to be the great master of tragic poetry.

But much as I love the man, I love truth more, and therefore I must speak out: and first of all, will you explain what is imitation, for really I do not understand?
'How likely then that I should understand!' That might very well be, for the duller often sees better than the keener eye.

'True, but in your presence I can hardly venture to say what I think.' Then suppose that we begin in our old fashion, with the doctrine of universals.