But, first, I must define the nature and power of education, and by this road we will travel on to the God Dionysus.

The man who is to be good at anything must have early training;--the future builder must play at building, and the husbandman at digging; the soldier must learn to ride, and the carpenter to measure and use the rule,--all the thoughts and pleasures of children should bear on their after-profession .-- Do you agree with me?
'Certainly.' And we must remember further that we are speaking of the education, not of a trainer, or of the captain of a ship, but of a perfect citizen who knows how to rule and how to obey; and such an education aims at virtue, and not at wealth or strength or mere cleverness.

To the good man, education is of all things the most precious, and is also in constant need of renovation.

'We agree.' And we have before agreed that good men are those who are able to control themselves, and bad men are those who are not.

Let me offer you an illustration which will assist our argument.