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1 [Title]| Laws~
2 1 | to be the author of your laws?~Cleinias. A God, Stranger;
3 1 | inspired by him to make laws for your cities?~Cleinias.
4 1 | account of your government and laws; on our way we can pass
5 1 | principles of right and wrong in laws.~Cleinias. What you say,
6 1 | ever after, and gave them laws which they mutually observed,
7 1 | And yet the aim of all the laws which he gave would be the
8 1 | not every one always make laws for the sake of the best?~
9 1 | above all things in making laws have regard to the greatest
10 1 | Lycurgus and Minos laid down laws both in Lacedaemon and Crete
11 1 | legislator when making his laws had in view not a part only,
12 1 | that he devised classes of laws answering to the kinds of
13 1 | which modern inventors of laws make the classes, for they
14 1 | only investigate and offer laws whenever a want is felt,
15 1 | and one man has a class of laws about allotments and heiresses,
16 1 | right way of examining into laws is to proceed as we have
17 1 | said, Stranger—The Cretan laws are with reason famous among
18 1 | they fulfil the object of laws, which is to make those
19 1 | rightly by the mouth of the laws themselves. Also with regard
20 1 | they are arranged in the laws of Zeus, as they are termed,
21 1 | eyes, who has experience in laws gained either by study or
22 1 | praiser of Zeus and the laws of Crete.~Athenian. I will
23 1 | pain to be found in your laws? Tell me what there is of
24 1 | tell you, Stranger, many laws which were directed against
25 1 | prominent in the Cretan laws.~Athenian. No wonder, my
26 1 | may have to censure the laws of the others, we must not
27 1 | you have reasonably good laws, one of the best of them
28 1 | must all agree that the laws are all good, for they came
29 1 | remarks any defect in your laws may communicate his observation
30 1 | like in your censure of our laws, for there is no discredit
31 1 | say anything against your laws until to the best of my
32 1 | that any speculation about laws turns almost entirely on
33 1 | pleasure. Of the Cretan laws, I shall leave the defence
34 1 | Cnosian friend. But the laws of Sparta, in as far as
35 1 | discussing each of the remaining laws in the same way. And about
36 1 | a discussion concerning laws and constitutions.~Cleinias.
37 2 | in a city which has good laws, or in future ages is to
38 2 | Cleinias. And what are the laws about music and dancing
39 2 | hardly help knowing the laws of melody and rhythm. But
40 2 | and that he ought to enact laws of the banquet, which, when
41 2 | character into the opposite—such laws as will infuse into him
42 2 | And the guardians of these laws and fellow–workers with
43 2 | have good sense and good laws ought not to drink wine,
44 3 | governments, and arts and laws, and a great deal of vice
45 3 | men of that time had of laws, and who was their lawgiver.~
46 3 | already their own peculiar laws.~Cleinias. Certainly.~Athenian.
47 3 | man surely likes his own laws best, and the laws of others
48 3 | his own laws best, and the laws of others not so well.~Cleinias.
49 3 | arbiters, who will review the laws of all of them, and will
50 3 | the original subject of laws into music and drinking–
51 3 | as you truly say, is in laws and in institutions the
52 3 | or ill settled, and what laws are the salvation and what
53 3 | governed according to the laws which were common to all
54 3 | three states to whom these laws were given, whether their
55 3 | legislators ought to impose such laws as the mass of the people
56 3 | lightened the task of passing laws.~Megillus. What advantage?~
57 3 | is introducing agrarian laws and cancelling of debts,
58 3 | original constitution and laws, and the only one which
59 3 | when we are enquiring about laws, this being our old man’
60 3 | this was.~Athenian. What laws are more worthy of our attention
61 3 | more striking instances of laws or governments being the
62 3 | legislator ought to ordain laws with a view to wisdom; while
63 3 | obey their rulers and the laws; or, again, in the individual,
64 3 | undertake the making of laws, “you see, legislator, the
65 3 | better of the established laws, and that they were not
66 3 | still remaining; he made laws upon the principle of introducing
67 3 | and he embodied in his laws the settlement of the tribute
68 3 | the general division of laws according to their importance
69 3 | live in obedience to the laws which then prevailed. Also
70 3 | of our rulers and of the laws; and for all these reasons
71 3 | obedience to their ancient laws, and which I have several
72 3 | will. Under the ancient laws, my friends, the people
73 3 | the willing servant of the laws.~Megillus. What laws do
74 3 | the laws.~Megillus. What laws do you mean?~Athenian. In
75 3 | place, let us speak of the laws about music—that is to say,
76 3 | they used the actual word “laws,” or nomoi, for another
77 3 | end, the control of the laws also; and at the very end
78 3 | desire us to give them any laws which we please, whether
79 4 | at first about the Cretan laws, that they look to one thing
80 4 | and I replied that such laws, in so far as they tended
81 4 | country and the order of the laws, considering that the mere
82 4 | language, and language, and laws, and in common temples and
83 4 | apt to kick against any laws or any form of constitution
84 4 | the badness of their own laws may have been the cause
85 4 | disposed to listen to new laws; but then, to make them
86 4 | governments and changing laws. And the power of discase
87 4 | which states change their laws than when the rulers lead:
88 4 | temperance, then the best laws and the best constitution
89 4 | for a city to have good laws, but that there is another
90 4 | by moulding in words the laws which are suitable to your
91 4 | order the State and the laws!~Cleinias. May he come!~
92 4 | having first trampled the laws under foot, becomes the
93 4 | said to be as many forms of laws as there are of governments,
94 4 | governing power makes whatever laws have authority in any state?”~
95 4 | principal object of their laws?”~Cleinias. How can they
96 4 | whoever transgresses these laws is punished as an evil–doer
97 4 | legislator, who calls the laws just?”~Cleinias. Naturally.~
98 4 | polities at all, nor are laws right which are passed for
99 4 | States which have such laws are not polities but parties,
100 4 | is most obedient to the laws of the state, he shall win
101 4 | these things, I say, the laws, as we proceed with them,
102 4 | the legislator in all his laws.~Cleinias. Certainly.~Athenian.
103 4 | words they went against the laws, to the hurt of the state.”~
104 4 | to have no preface to his laws, but to say at once Do this,
105 4 | according to the true order, the laws relating to marriage should
106 4 | judgment about any other laws—whether they should be double
107 4 | which is going to use these laws.~Cleinias. Thank you, Megillus.~
108 4 | regarded in our existing laws.~Cleinias. What is it?~Athenian.
109 4 | have we been talking about laws in this charming retreat:
110 4 | going to promulgate our laws, and what has preceded was
111 4 | that there is;—these double laws, of which we were speaking,
112 4 | observe, that to all his laws, and to each separately,
113 4 | Cleinias, in affirming that all laws have preambles, and that
114 4 | wrong in requiring that all laws, small and great alike,
115 4 | you shall go through the laws themselves.~Athenian. I
116 5 | have just now heard the laws about Gods, and about our
117 5 | palm of obedience to the laws of his country, and who,
118 5 | tractable and amenable to the laws which are about to be imposed.~
119 5 | the preamble; and now the laws should follow; or, to speak
120 5 | of offices, the other the laws which are assigned to them
121 5 | up a new government and laws, even if he attempt the
122 5 | occasions, and whatever laws there are unite the city
123 5 | But the intention of our laws was that the citizens should
124 5 | scale. But if, in any of the laws which have been ordained,
125 5 | the legislator, by other laws and institutions, can banish
126 5 | as man can, and frame his laws accordingly. And this is
127 6 | they have been established, laws again will have to be provided
128 6 | ordered city superadd to good laws unsuitable offices, not
129 6 | no use in having the good laws—not only will they be ridiculous
130 6 | colonists shall receive our laws. Now a man need not be very
131 6 | no one can easily receive laws at their first imposition.
132 6 | if any one, despising the laws for the sake of gain, be
133 6 | that of guardian of the laws after he is seventy years
134 6 | unstained life. Now the laws about all divine things
135 6 | office, according to the laws of religion, must be not
136 6 | than sixty years of age—the laws shall be the same about
137 6 | be amenable to the same laws as the younger offender
138 6 | first upon serving the laws, which is also the service
139 6 | office according to the laws laid down for them. Next,
140 6 | an exact statement of the laws respecting suits, under
141 6 | First, he desires that his laws should be written down with
142 6 | can maintain and amend the laws, he should finish what he
143 6 | friends and saviours of our laws, in laying down any law,
144 6 | be, praise and blame the laws—blame those which have not
145 6 | proceed to another class of laws, beginning with their foundation
146 6 | establish and use the new laws with the others which the
147 6 | and uninstructed in the laws of bridal song. Drunkenness
148 6 | imagines that he can give laws for the public conduct of
149 6 | of discussion the several laws will be perfected, and we
150 6 | better able to lay down the laws which are proper or suited
151 7 | stability in the laying down of laws is hardly to be expected;
152 7 | reflection may himself adopt the laws just now mentioned, and,
153 7 | and what are termed the laws of our ancestors are all
154 7 | neither call these things laws, nor yet leave them unmentioned,
155 7 | come in between the written laws which are or are hereafter
156 7 | small, of what are called laws or manners or pursuits,
157 7 | and lengthening out our laws.~Cleinias. Very true: we
158 7 | been brought up in certain laws, which by some Divine Providence
159 7 | want other institutions and laws; and no one of them reflects
160 7 | natural arrangement of our laws, let us proceed to the conclusion
161 7 | strains of music are our laws (nomoi), and this latter
162 7 | by the guardians of the laws, and by the priests and
163 7 | Can any one who makes such laws escape ridicule? Let us
164 7 | then propose as one of our laws and models relating to the
165 7 | have been obedient to the laws, should receive eulogies;
166 7 | them and embody them in laws. In these several schools
167 7 | the whole discussion about laws.~Cleinias. Yes.~Athenian.
168 7 | fill up the lacunae of our laws?~Athenian. They shall be
169 7 | good.~Athenian. Enough of laws relating to education and
170 7 | great absurdity. Now, our laws and the whole constitution
171 7 | the person who serves the laws best and obeys them most,
172 7 | both when he is giving laws and when he assigns praise
173 7 | ought not only to write his laws, but also to interweave
174 7 | legislator, in laying down laws about hunting, can neither
175 8 | institute festivals and make laws about them, and to determine
176 8 | the other guardians of the laws, who shall give them this
177 8 | of the guardians of the laws, not even if his strain
178 8 | think, be made by these laws the reverse of lovers of
179 8 | slings and by hand: and laws shall be made about it,
180 8 | be forced to compete by laws and ordinances; but if from
181 8 | those who make peculiar laws; but in the matter of love,
182 8 | now let us proceed to the laws.~Megillus. Very good.~Athenian.
183 8 | making foolish and impossible laws, and fills the world with
184 8 | Stranger to proceed with his laws.~Megillus. Very good.~Athenian.
185 8 | less difficult—half as many laws will be enough, and much
186 8 | he has nothing to do with laws about shipowners and merchants
187 8 | good–bye to these, he gives laws to husbandmen and shepherds
188 8 | and now he must direct his laws to those who provide food
189 8 | all, then, have a class of laws which shall be called the
190 8 | which shall be called the laws of husbandmen. And let the
191 8 | have had of old excellent laws about waters, and there
192 8 | water, in such manner as the laws of the interpreters order
193 8 | usefulness and necessity of such laws; and when they are duly
194 8 | shall make fit and proper laws about them. But let there
195 9 | anticipation, and threaten and make laws against him if he should
196 9 | ancient legislators, who gave laws to heroes and sons of gods,
197 9 | all the strength of the laws; and for their sake, though
198 9 | man to power enslaves the laws, and subjects the city to
199 9 | subverter by violence of the laws of the state. For a thief,
200 9 | likened the men for whom laws are now made to slaves who
201 9 | he who discourses about laws, as we are now doing, is
202 9 | citizens education and not laws; that would be rather a
203 9 | are not compelled to give laws, but we may take into consideration
204 9 | truly say that some of our laws, like stones, are already
205 9 | cities, those which relate to laws, when you unfold and read
206 9 | should consider whether the laws of states ought not to have
207 9 | whether, in discoursing of laws, we should not take the
208 9 | difficult to understand; the laws which have been already
209 9 | as errors, and will make laws accordingly for those who
210 9 | and most merciful of all laws.~Cleinias. You are perfectly
211 9 | these five we will make laws of two kinds.~Cleinias.
212 9 | violence and deceit; the laws concerning these last ought
213 9 | the work of legislation. Laws have been already enacted
214 9 | concerning those who corrupt the laws for the purpose of subverting
215 9 | us endeavour to lay down laws concerning every different
216 9 | been purified according to laws he shall be quit of the
217 9 | is in possession of our laws. And if he return contrary
218 9 | shall be the rule of our laws.~Cleinias. Certainly.~Athenian.
219 9 | shall be amenable to many laws;—he shall be amenable to
220 9 | interpreters and of the laws thereto relating, and do
221 9 | following:—Mankind must have laws, and conform to them, or
222 9 | he would have no need of laws to rule over him; for there
223 9 | a metic who disobeys the laws shall be imprisoned for
224 9 | the court in such cases.~Laws are partly framed for the
225 9 | there may be no need of his laws. He who shall dare to lay
226 9 | And let there be the same laws about women in relation
227 10 | who in obedience to the laws believed that there were
228 10 | allowed, in the matter of laws, that before you are hard
229 10 | leave them and return to our laws, lest the prelude should
230 10 | noblest prelude of all our laws. And therefore, without
231 10 | but by art, and by the laws of states, which are different
232 10 | rather, when he is making laws for men, at the same time
233 10 | legislation is that the laws when once written down are
234 10 | the rescue of the greatest laws, when they are being undermined
235 10 | and proceeds by kindred laws, then, as is plain, we must
236 10 | universe, as far as the laws of the common creation admit.
237 10 | opposites, the prelude of our laws about impiety will not have
238 10 | willing to vindicate the laws; and if any one be cast,
239 11 | simplest and noblest of laws which was the enactment
240 11 | person and a despiser of the laws, let him pay ten times the
241 11 | the preludes of our other laws. Every man should regard
242 11 | if instead of obeying the laws he takes no heed, he shall
243 11 | let them inscribe their laws on a column in front of
244 11 | another, and repugnant to the laws and habits of the living
245 11 | too good–natured, and made laws without sufficient observation
246 11 | which is afforded by these laws.~And if a man dying by some
247 11 | from ourselves that such laws are apt to be oppressive
248 11 | chosen to deal with such laws and the subjects of them.~
249 11 | fault with the established laws respecting testaments, both
250 11 | or if they had not just laws fairly stated about these
251 11 | have been reason in making laws for them, under the idea
252 11 | which these are to be the laws, the disinherited must necessarily
253 11 | and violence, and giving laws of such a kind as the Gods
254 11 | is one who heeds not the laws, and does not do what the
255 11 | held disobedient to the laws.~Now he is not to be pitied
256 12 | much consideration and many laws are required; the great
257 12 | the Gods are changed, the laws should also be changed;—
258 12 | are well governed by good laws the mixture causes the greatest
259 12 | city properly observe the laws by habit only, and without
260 12 | of those who review the laws. This shall be a mixed body
261 12 | and discourse about the laws of their own city or about
262 12 | will make the subject of laws dark and uncertain to them.
263 12 | say about the enactment of laws or education or nurture,
264 12 | about education and the laws, And if he deserve to be
265 12 | have been described, and laws have been given about all
266 12 | knowledge the knowledge of good laws has the greatest power of
267 12 | completed the following laws shall regulate their execution:—
268 12 | the whole state and of the laws.~Thus a man is born and
269 12 | under the protection of the laws, and his end comes in the
270 12 | terrible to the bad, as the laws of our fathers tell us;
271 12 | Let these, then, be our laws relating to such matters,
272 12 | embodied in the preceding laws, so that now our work of
273 12 | be still wanting in our laws: we have still to see how
274 12 | imparted this quality to our laws; for it is ridiculous, after
275 12 | our government and of our laws, and how is it to be effected?~
276 12 | the preservation of the laws, and who, having come safely
277 12 | for we were saying that laws generally should look to
278 12 | the true guardians of the laws ought to know the truth
279 12 | follow the voice of the laws, but we refuse to admit
280 12 | harmonized them all with laws and institutions, is not
281 12 | not add to all the other laws which we have discussed
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