The individual follows reason, and the city law, which is embodied reason, either derived from the Gods or from the legislator.
When virtue and vice are thus distinguished, education will be better understood, and in particular the relation of education to convivial intercourse.

And now let us set wine before the puppet.

You admit that wine stimulates the passions?
'Yes.' And does wine equally stimulate the reasoning faculties?
'No; it brings the soul back to a state of childhood.' In such a state a man has the least control over himself, and is, therefore, worst.

'Very true.' Then how can we believe that drinking should be encouraged?
'You seem to think that it ought to be.' And I am ready to maintain my position.

'We should like to hear you prove that a man ought to make a beast of himself.' You are speaking of the degradation of the soul: but how about the body?
Would any man willingly degrade or weaken that?
'Certainly not.' And yet if he goes to a doctor or a gymnastic master, does he not make himself ill in the hope of getting well?
for no one would like to be always taking medicine, or always to be in training.