Then the old man said:  “There is a saying very prevalent among the Greek philosophers, to the effect that there is in reality neither good nor evil in the life of man; but that men call things good or evil as they appear to them, prejudiced by the use and custom of life.  For not even murder is really an evil, because it sets the soul free from the bonds of the flesh.  Further, they say that even just judges put to death those who commit crimes; but if they knew homicide to be an evil, just men would not do that.  Neither do they say that adultery is an evil; for if the husband does not know, or does not care, there is, they say, no evil in it.  But neither, say they is theft an evil; for it takes away what one does not possess from another who has it.  And, indeed, it ought to be taken freely and openly; but in that it is done secretly, that is rather a reproof of his inhumanity from whom it is secretly taken.  For all men ought to have the common use of all things that are in this world; but through injustice one says that this is his, and another that that is his, and so division is caused among men.  In short, a certain man, the wisest among the Greeks,⁸⁵⁸

858 Allusion is made to Socrates and community of wives, as stated in the Republic of Plato.

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