Cleinias:  We are quite agreed, Stranger, that we should legislate about such things, and that the whole state should practise them.

Athenian:  And what is the reason that dances and contests of this sort hardly ever exist in states, at least not to any extent worth speaking of?  Is this due to the ignorance of mankind and their legislators?

Cleinias:  Perhaps.

Athenian:  Certainly not, sweet Cleinias; there are two causes, which are quite enough to account for the deficiency.

Cleinias:  What are they?

Athenian:  One cause is the love of wealth, which wholly absorbs men, and never for a moment allows them to think of anything but their own private possessions; on this the soul of every citizen hangs suspended, and can attend to nothing but his daily gain; mankind are ready to learn any branch of knowledge, and to follow any pursuit which tends to this end, and they laugh at every other:  that is one reason why a city will not be in earnest about such contests or any other good and honourable pursuit.  But from an insatiable love of gold and silver, every man will stoop to any art or contrivance, seemly or unseemly, in the hope of becoming rich; and will make no objection to performing any action, holy, or unholy and utterly base; if only like a beast he have the power of eating and drinking all kinds of things, and procuring for himself in every sort of way the gratification of his lusts.

Cleinias:  True.

Athenian:  Let this, then, be deemed one of the causes which prevent states from pursuing in an efficient manner the art of war, or any other noble aim, but makes the orderly and temperate part of mankind into merchants, and captains of ships, and servants, and converts the valiant sort into thieves and burglars, and robbers of temples, and violent, tyrannical persons; many of whom are not without ability, but they are unfortunate.

Cleinias:  What do you mean?

Athenian:  Must not they be truly unfortunate whose souls are compelled to pass through life always hungering?

Cleinias:  Then that is one cause, Stranger; but you spoke of another.

Athenian:  Thank you for reminding me.

Cleinias:  The insatiable lifelong love of wealth, as you were saying, is one cause which absorbs mankind, and prevents them from rightly practising the arts of war:  Granted; and now tell me, what is the other?

Athenian:  Do you imagine that I delay because I am in a perplexity?

Cleinias:  No; but we think that you are too severe upon the money-loving temper, of which you seem in the present discussion to have a peculiar dislike.

Athenian:  That is a very fair rebuke, Cleinias; and I will now proceed to the second cause.

Cleinias:  Proceed.