their natures timed and tuned, may be fitted to speak and act. The truth is, the whole life of man needs timing and tuning. Furthermore, in addition to all this, parents send their sons to the physical trainer, in order that their bodies may be improved and rendered capable of seconding a noble intent, and they themselves not be forced, from physical deterioration, to play the coward in war or other (serious) matters. And those who can best afford to give this education, give most of it, and these are the richest people. Their sons go earliest to school and leave it latest. And when the boys leave school, the State insists that they shall learn the laws and live according to them, and not according to their own caprice ... And if any one transgresses these laws, the State punishes him ... Seeing that so much attention is devoted to virtue, both in the family and in the State, do you wonder, Socrates, and question whether virtue be something that can be taught? Surely you ought not to wonder at this, but rather to wonder if it could _not_ be taught.--Plato, _Protagoras_ (_words of Protagoras_). "Isn't it true, Lysis," said I, "that your parents love you very much?"--"To be sure," said he.--"Then they would wish you to be as happy as possible?"--"Of course," said he.--"And do you think a person is happy who is a slave, and is not allowed to do anything he desires?"--"I don't, indeed," said he.--"Then, if your father and mother love you and wish you to be happy, they endeavor by every means in their power to make you happy."--"To be sure they do," said he.--"Then they allow you to do anything you please, and never chide you, or prevent you from doing what you desire."--"By Jove! they do, Socrates: they prevent me from doing a great many things."--"What do you mean," said I; "they wish you to be happy, and yet prevent you from doing what you wish? Let us take an example: If you want to ride in one of your father's chariots, and to hold the reins, when it is competing in a race, won't they allow you, or will they prevent you?"--"By Jove! no: they would not allow me," said he. "But why should they? There is a charioteer, who is hired by my father."--"What do you mean? They allow a hired man, rather than you, to do what he likes with the horses, and pay him a salary besides?"--"And why not?" said he.--"Well then, I suppose they allow you to manage the mule-team, and if you wanted to take the whip and whip it, they would permit you."--"How could they?" said he.--"What?" said I: "is nobody allowed to whip it?"--"Of course," he said; "the muleteer."--"A slave or a free man?"--"A slave," said he.--"And so it seems they think more of a slave than of their son, and entrust their property to him rather than to you, and allow him to do what he pleases, whereas they prevent you.