Regulations about age, for procreation--Children brought up under public authority 44 Perfect communion of sentiment and interest among the Guardians--Causes of pleasure and pain the same to all, like parts of the same organism _ib._ Harmony--absence of conflicting interest--assured scale of equal comfort--consequent happiness--among the Guardians 45 In case of war both sexes will go together to battle--Rewards to distinguished warriors 46 War against Hellenic enemies to be carried on mildly--Hellens are all by nature kinsmen 47 Question--How is the scheme practicable? It is difficult, yet practicable on one condition--That philosophy and political power should come into the same hands _ib._ Characteristic marks of the philosopher--He contemplates and knows Entia or unchangeable Forms, as distinguished from fluctuating particulars or Fientia 48 Ens alone can be known--Non-Ens is unknowable. That which is midway between Ens and Non-Ens (particulars) is matter only of opinion. Ordinary men attain nothing beyond opinion 49 Particulars fluctuate: they are sometimes just or beautiful, sometimes unjust or ugly. Forms or Entia alone remain constant 50 The many cannot discern or admit the reality of Forms--Their minds are always fluctuating among particulars 51 The philosopher will be ardent for all varieties of knowledge--His excellent moral attributes--He will be trained to capacity for active life _ib._ Adeimantus does not dispute the conclusion, but remarks that it is at variance with actual facts--Existing philosophers are either worthless pretenders, or when they are good, useless 52 Sokrates admits the fact to be so--His simile of the able steersman on shipboard, among a disobedient crew 53 The uselessness of the true philosopher is the fault of the citizen, who will not invoke his guidance 54 The great qualities required to form a philosopher, become sources of perversion, under a misguiding public opinion _ib._ Mistake of supposing that such perversion arises from the Sophists. Irresistible effect of the public opinion generally, in tempting or forcing a dissenter into orthodoxy 55 The Sophists and other private teachers accept the prevalent orthodoxy, and conform their teaching to it 56 The people generally hate philosophy--A youth who aspires to it will be hated by the people, and persecuted even by his own relatives 57 The really great minds are thus driven away from the path of philosophy--which is left to empty pretenders 58 Rare cases in which a highly qualified philosopher remains--Being at variance with public opinion, he can achieve nothing, and is lucky if he can obtain safety by silence _ib._ The philosopher must have a community suitable to him, and worthy of him 59 It must be such a community as Sokrates has been describing--But means must be taken to keep up a perpetual succession of philosophers as Rulers 60