_Socrates_--Then, since we have found a common starting point, we may go on with our conversation. We have proved that the earth was made for man, because man, by powers inherent in himself, can overcome all other living things on the earth and subject them to his uses. _Phædo_--Yes, we have proved that. _Socrates_--And the real source of his kingship is power. _Phædo_--That must be true. _Socrates_--And force is power applied to some object, so that power and force may be spoken of as the same thing. _Phædo_--Certainly. _Socrates_--And where power lies, there and there only is sovereignty, and where power ends sovereignty finds its limit. So that, for example, if the lion could subdue man and the other animals, the earth would be for the use of the lion. _Phædo_--That is plain. _Socrates_--And if a company of men should find an island and go and live upon it and be strong enough to subdue the wild animals and keep out other men, that island would be for their use. _Phædo_--That follows, because sovereignty goes with power exercised in force. _Socrates_--And so if one man should find a vacant space and take possession, it would be his. _Phædo_--That is true. _Socrates_--And what belongs to man, man may dispose of as he will. _Phædo_--All men agree to that. _Socrates_--And, therefore, since Hippocrates has found a vacant space on the earth and taken possession thereof, and no man disputes his possession, it is his and he may sell it. _Phædo_--That is certainly true, and I do not doubt that Hipparchus will now pay down his talent of silver and take over the vale in the Olympian forest. _Socrates_--And if instead of finding an island the company of men had found an entire continent it would be theirs if they were strong enough to keep it. _Phædo_--Surely that is so, for power is but concentrated ability to enjoy, and where most power lies, there lies most ability to enjoy, and therefore the highest possible aggregate of human happiness, in the attainment of which the will of the gods shall be done. _Socrates_--And if a company can take part of a continent, but not the whole, whatever they are able to take is theirs. _Phædo_--Undoubtedly. _Socrates_--And what is theirs is not the property of others. _Phædo_--By no means. _Socrates_--And if it does not belong to others, others may not lawfully use it. _Phædo_--Surely not. _Socrates_--And they who do own it may prevent others from entering it. _Phædo_--Surely, for hath not the poet said:= ```"That they shall take who have the power, ```And they may keep who can."= _Socrates_--Therefore it is plain that the United States may keep Chinamen out of America. _Phædo_--There can be no doubt of it whatever. _Socrates_--And Chinese may keep Americans out of China. _Phædo_--That is another story. One must never let his logic get the better of him.