_Socr._ If, therefore, any young man in this city should consider within himself, “How could I obtain influence, and be injured by no one?” this, as it seems, must be his method, he must from his very youth accustom himself to rejoice and grieve at the same things as the despot, and contrive to make himself as like him as possible. Is it not so? _Cal._ Yes. _Socr._ Will not he, then, have managed so as not to be injured, and to have great power in that city, according to your argument? _Cal._ Certainly. _Socr._ Will he also manage not to commit injustice? or far from it, since he will be like the governor, who is unjust, and will have great influence with him? I think, for my part, that quite contrariwise he will contrive so as to be able to commit the greatest injustice and not to be punished for it. Will he not? _Cal._ It appears so. _Socr._ Will not, then, the greatest evil befal him, in consequence of being depraved in his soul, and tainted through imitation of the despot and his influence with him? 142. _Cal._ I know not, Socrates, how you always turn the arguments upside down. Do you not know, that he who imitates can kill him who does not imitate _the despot_ if he pleases, and deprive him of his property? _Socr._ I do know it, good Callicles, unless I am deaf, since I have just now heard it often both from you and Polus, and from almost every one else in the city. But do you in your turn listen to me: he will kill him if he pleases, but a depraved man, one who is upright and good. _Cal._ And is not this a thing to be indignant at? _Socr._ Not to a man of sense, as our argument proves. Do you think that a man should aim at this; to live as long as possible, and should study those arts which always preserve us from dangers, as rhetoric which you bid me study, and which saves us in courts of justice? _Cal._ I do, by Jupiter, and therein I advise you well. 143. _Socr._ What then, my excellent friend, does the science of swimming too appear to you to be very fine? _Cal._ No, by Jupiter.