Chapter 18 Volume 3 Chapter 1

Socrates often exhorted those who aspired to public office to learn the business required of them.Tasks and Responsibilities of Military Commanders, Sections 1-5.He must know many things besides tactics, 6-11. I will now prove that Socrates was of great service to those who aspired to a position of honor, for he drew their attention to the responsibilities they owed in the position they sought. Once he heard that Diano Shadorus had come to the city, claiming to teach the art of being a general.Socrates notes that one of his fellow men once wanted to take this honorable post in the city-state.So he said to this man: "Young man, it is a shameful thing for a person to take up the responsibility of a general in a city-state and ignore the opportunity to learn business. Such a person should be punished by the city-state, far more than a person who has never studied The man who carves and wants to sign a contract to be a statue of the city deserves much punishment. For in the critical period of war, the whole city is put into the hands of the general, and if he succeeds, the whole city will be very good. If If he fails, the whole city will suffer great loss. Therefore, how can a man who wishes to be selected for such a position, neglect to learn the business related to it, not be punished as he deserves?"

This remark aroused the interest of this person to study.When he came back from his studies, Socrates jokingly said: "Gentlemen, just as Homer called Agamemnon 'majestic', now that our friend has learned the art of war, don't you think he is also more majestic?" Has he risen? Just as a man who has learned to play the lyre is a lyreist even though he has not yet used it; a man who has learned the art of medicine is a doctor even though he has not practiced it. Elect him to lead the army, and from now on this young man will be a general. But even if the whole world elects him to a person who lacks considerable knowledge, he will not be a general or a doctor.” "However," continued Socrates, "in case any of us may have a better military knowledge when serving as a battalion or company commander under your command, please tell you how he will begin to teach you about the art of war." Tell us about it."

"From the beginning to the end, all he taught me was tactics and nothing else," replied the young man. "But," said Socrates, "this is only a small part of the art of generalship; a general must also be able to prepare for the necessities of war, he must be able to obtain provisions for his troops, he must be a resourceful, energetic, prudent , sensible, persevering and shrewd; amiable and stern; frank and cunning; vigilant and skillful in sneak attacks, profligate and greedy; generous and penny-pinching; prudent and aggressive, There are many other qualities, some natural and some learned, which are necessary for a man who wants to be a general. Of course, it is good to know tactics; for there is a big difference between a well-organized army and a mob Yes, just as stone, brick, wood, and tiles are useless if they are thrown together, but if you put those non-perishable materials, that is, put stones and tiles on the bottom and top, and bricks and wood In the middle, houses of great value can be built."

"You are quite right in your comparison, Socrates," said the young man, "because in war the best troops must be placed in the front and rear, and the worst in the middle, so that they can be pushed ahead of them." Those who lead and are driven forward by those who follow them". Socrates said: "If he ever taught you how to tell good troops from bad troops, well, otherwise what use are these lessons to you? For it is the same as he taught you to put the best coins in the It is equally useless to put the worst coins first and last, without teaching you how to tell the difference between good and bad coins."

"To be honest," the young man replied, "he didn't teach me how to tell the difference between good and bad troops. We can only judge who is good and who is bad by ourselves." "Then why don't we consider how to avoid mistakes in this respect?" asked Socrates. "I would love to," replied the young man. "When we have to grab a sum of money," asked Socrates, "is it not the right way to put the most money-lovers at the forefront?" "I think so." "What do we do with those who are about to be in danger? Should we put the most honorable at the forefront?"

"At least," replied the young man, "they are the ones who risk their honor; and they are not so difficult to find, such beings stand out everywhere, and it is easy to pick them out." "But," asked Socrates, "does he teach you only to form formations, or does he also teach you what purpose and how to use each formation?" "Taught nothing." "Be aware that there are many occasions where it would not be appropriate to line up or lead a team in the same way." "To be honest, he didn't explain it to me like that." "Then you can go back and ask him. If he knows and has a bit of shame, he'll be ashamed of sending you back after taking your tuition and failing to teach you well."