For where power and wisdom and temperance meet in one, there are the best laws and constitutions.

I am endeavouring to show you how easy under the conditions supposed, and how difficult under any other, is the task of giving a city good laws.

'How do you mean ?' Let us old men attempt to mould in words a constitution for your new state, as children make figures out of wax.

'Proceed.

What constitution shall we give--democracy, oligarchy, or aristocracy ?' To which of these classes, Megillus, do you refer your own state?
'The Spartan constitution seems to me to contain all these elements.