§2.1267aοἱ δὲ χαρίεντες περὶ τῶν τιμῶν, ἐὰν ἴσαι· ὅθεν καὶ
"
ἐν δὲ ἰῇ τιμῇ ἠμὲν κακὸς ἠδὲ καὶ ἐσθλός. "
οὐ μόνον δʼ οἱ ἄνθρωποι διὰ τἀναγκαῖα ἀδικοῦσιν, ὧν ἄκος εἶναι νομίζει τὴν ἰσότητα τῆς οὐσίας, ὥστε μὴ λωποδυτεῖν διὰ τὸ ῥιγοῦν ἢ πεινῆν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὅπως χαίρωσι καὶ μὴ ἐπιθυμῶσιν· ἐὰν γὰρ μείζω ἔχωσιν ἐπιθυμίαν τῶν ἀναγκαίων, διὰ τὴν ταύτης ἰατρείαν ἀδικήσουσιν·
But the refined do so concerning honors, if they are equal; hence it is also said, "In the same honor are held both the coward and the brave." And humans do not commit injustice only because of necessities, of which he thinks the equality of property is the cure, so that they do not commit highway robbery because of shivering or starving, but also so that they may rejoice and not desire; for if they have a desire greater than the necessities, they will commit injustice for the sake of its cure.
οὐ τοίνυν διὰ ταύτην μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἵνα χαίρωσι ταῖς ἄνευ λυπῶν ἡδοναῖς.
Not only, therefore, for this cure, but also so that they may rejoice in pleasures that are without pains.
τί οὖν ἄκος τῶν τριῶν τούτων;
What then is the cure for these three things?
τοῖς μὲν οὐσία βραχεῖα καὶ ἐργασία, τοῖς δὲ σωφροσύνη· τρίτον δʼ, εἴ τινες βούλοιντο διʼ αὑτῶν χαίρειν, οὐκ ἂν ἐπιζητοῖεν εἰ μὴ παρὰ φιλοσοφίας ἄκος. αἱ γὰρ ἄλλαι ἀνθρώπων δέονται·
For some, a small property and labor; for others, temperance; and third, if any should wish to rejoice through themselves, they would not seek a cure except from philosophy, for the other pleasures require human beings.
ἐπεὶ ἀδικουσί γε τὰ μέγιστα διὰ τὰς ὑπερβολάς, ἀλλʼ οὐ διὰ τὰ ἀναγκαῖα (οἷον τυραννοῦσιν οὐχ ἵνα μὴ ῥιγῶσιν· διὸ καὶ αἱ τιμαὶ μεγάλαι, ἂν ἀποκτείνῃ τις οὐ κλέπτην ἀλλὰ τύραννον)·
Since indeed they commit the greatest injustices because of excesses, but not because of necessities (for instance, they do not become tyrants so as not to shiver; which is why the honors are also great if one kills not a thief but a tyrant).
ὥστε πρὸς τὰς μικρὰς ἀδικίας βοηθητικὸς μόνον ὁ τρόπος τῆς Φαλέου πολιτείας.
Consequently, the character of Phaleas's constitution is helpful only against small injustices.
ἔτι τὰ πολλὰ βούλεται κατασκευάζειν ἐξ ὧν τὰ πρὸς αὑτοὺς πολιτεύσονται καλῶς, δεῖ δὲ καὶ πρὸς τοὺς γειτνιῶντας καὶ τοὺς ἔξωθεν πάντας.
Furthermore, he wishes to construct most things from which they will govern well in relation to themselves, but one must also do so in relation to neighbors and all outsiders.
ἀναγκαῖον ἄρα τὴν πολιτείαν συντετάχθαι πρὸς τὴν πολεμικὴν ἰσχύν, περὶ ἧς ἐκεῖνος οὐδὲν εἴρηκεν.
It is necessary, therefore, that the constitution be organized with a view to military strength, concerning which he has said nothing.
ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ περὶ τῆς κτήσεως. δεῖ γὰρ οὐ μόνον πρὸς τὰς πολιτικὰς χρήσεις ἱκανὴν ὑπάρχειν, ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς τοὺς ἔξωθεν κινδύνους·
And likewise concerning possession; for it must be sufficient not only for political uses but also for dangers from the outside.
διόπερ οὔτε τοσοῦτον δεῖ πλῆθος ὑπάρχειν ὅσου οἱ πλησίον καὶ κρείττους ἐπιθυμήσουσιν, οἱ δὲ ἔχοντες ἀμύνειν οὐ δυνήσονται τοὺς ἐπιόντας, οὔθʼ οὕτως ὀλίγην ὥστε μὴ δύνασθαι πόλεμον ὑπενεγκεῖν μηδὲ τῶν ἴσων καὶ τῶν ὁμοίων.
For this reason, there must not be so great a quantity that neighbors and those who are stronger will desire it, while those who possess it will not be able to ward off the attackers, nor so small that they cannot withstand a war even against those who are equal and similar.
ἐκεῖνος μὲν οὖν οὐδὲν διώρικεν, δεῖ δὲ τοῦτο μὴ λανθάνειν, ὅ τι συμφέρει πλῆθος οὐσίας.
He, therefore, has determined nothing, but this must not be overlooked: what quantity of property is beneficial.
ἴσως οὖν ἄριστος ὅρος τὸ μὴ λυσιτελεῖν τοῖς κρείττοσι διὰ τὴν ὑπερβολὴν πολεμεῖν, ἀλλʼ οὕτως ὡς ἂν καὶ μὴ ἐχόντων τοσαύτην οὐσίαν.
Perhaps, then, the best limit is for it not to be profitable for those who are stronger to wage war because of its excess, but in such a way as if they did not possess so much property.
οἷον Εὔβουλος Αὐτοφραδάτου μέλλοντος Ἀταρνέα πολιορκεῖν ἐκέλευσεν αὐτόν, σκεψάμενον ἐν πόσῳ χρόνῳ λήψεται τὸ χωρίον, λογίσασθαι τοῦ χρόνου τούτου τὴν δαπάνην· ἐθέλειν γὰρ ἔλαττον τούτου λαβὼν ἐκλιπεῖν ἤδη τὸν Ἀταρνέα·
For example, when Autophradates was about to besiege Atarneus, Eubulus told him, after considering in how much time he would take the place, to calculate the cost of this time; for he was willing to leave Atarneus immediately if he received less than this cost.
ταῦτα δʼ εἰπὼν ἐποίησε τὸν Αὐτοφραδάτην σύννουν γενόμενον παύσασθαι τῆς πολιορκίας.
By saying these things, he made Autophradates reflect and cease the siege.
ἔστι μὲν οὖν τι τῶν συμφερόντων τὸ τὰς οὐσίας ἴσας εἶναι τοῖς πολίταις πρὸς τὸ μὴ στασιάζειν πρὸς ἀλλήλους, οὐ μὴν μέγα οὐδὲν ὡς εἰπεῖν.
Now, that properties are equal for the citizens is indeed one of the beneficial things with a view to not engaging in factional strife against one another, yet it is by no means anything great, so to speak.
καὶ γὰρ οἱ χαρίεντες ἀγανακτοῖεν ὡς οὐκ ἴσων ὄντες ἄξιοι, διὸ καὶ φαίνονται πολλάκις ἐπιτιθέμενοι καὶ στασιάζοντες·
For the refined would be indignant on the ground that they are not worthy of equal things, which is why they also frequently appear to make attempts and engage in factional strife.