Now,
should these two classes be distinguished, or are both functions to be
assigned to the same persons? Here again there is no difficulty in
seeing that both functions will in one way belong to the same, in
another, to different persons. To different persons in so far as these
i.e., the physical and the employments are suited to different
primes of life, for the one requires mental wisdom and the other
strength. But on the other hand, since it is an impossible thing
that those who are able to use or to resist force should be willing to
remain always in subjection, from this point of view the persons are
the same; for those who carry arms can always determine the fate of
the constitution. It remains therefore that both functions should be
entrusted by the ideal constitution to the same persons, not, however,
at the same time, but in the order prescribed by nature, who has given
to young men strength and to older men wisdom. Such a distribution
of duties will be expedient and also just, and is founded upon a
principle of conformity to merit. Besides, the ruling class should
be the owners of property, for they are citizens, and the citizens
of a state should be in good circumstances; whereas mechanics or any
other class which is not a producer of virtue have no share in the
state. This follows from our first principle, for happiness cannot
exist without virtue, and a city is not to be termed happy in regard
to a portion of the citizens, but in regard to them all.
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