THE REPUBLIC OF PLATO - Studyplace

I. 3SI] INJUSTICE A SOURCE OF WEAKNESS 35
I am delighted with your answer, Thrasymachus; this IS much
better than just nodding and shaking your head.
It is all to oblige you.
Thank you. Please add to your kindness by telling me whether
any set of men-a state or an army or a band of robbers or thieves
-who were acting together for some unjust purpose would be
likely to succeed, if they were always trying to injure one another.
Wouldn't they do better, if they did not
Yes, they would.
Because, of course, such injuries must set them quarrelling and
hating each other. Only fair treatment can make men friendly and
of one mind.
Be it so, he said; I don't want to differ from you.
Thank you once more, I replied. But don't you agree that, if
injustice has this effect of implanting hatred wherever it exists, it
must make any set of people, whether freemen or slaves, split into
factions, at feud with one another and incapable of any joint
action
Yes.
And so with any two individuals: injustice will set them at variance
and make them enemies to each other as well as to everyone
who is just.
It will.
And will it not keep its character and have the same effect, if it
exists in a single person
Let us suppose so.
The effect being, apparently, wherever it occurs--in a state or a
family or an army or anywhere else-to make united action impossible
because of factions and quarrels, and moreover to set whatever
it resides in at enmity with itself as well as with any opponent
and with all who are just.
Yes, certainly.
Then I suppose it will produce the same natural results in an
individual. He will have a divided mind and be incapable of action,
for lack of singleness of purpose; and he will be at enmity
with all who are just as well as with himself
Yes,