Socrates: And now injustice and all evil in the soul has been admitted by us to be most disgraceful?
Polus: It has been admitted.
Socrates: And most disgraceful either because most painful and causing excessive pain, or most hurtful, or both?
Polus: Certainly.
Socrates: And therefore to be unjust and intemperate, and cowardly and ignorant, is more painful than to be poor and sick?
Polus: Nay, Socrates; the painfulness does not appear to me to follow from your premises.
Socrates: Then, if, as you would argue, not more painful, the evil of the soul is of all evils the most disgraceful; and the excess of disgrace must be caused by some preternatural greatness, or extraordinary hurtfulness of the evil.
Polus: Clearly.
Socrates: And that which exceeds most in hurtfulness will be the greatest of evils?
Polus: Yes.
Socrates: Then injustice and intemperance, and in general the depravity of the soul, are the greatest of evils?
Polus: That is evident.
Socrates: Now, what art is there which delivers us from poverty? Does not the art of making money?
Polus: Yes.
Socrates: And what art frees us from disease? Does not the art of medicine?
Polus: Very true.
Socrates: And what from vice and injustice? If you are not able to answer at once, ask yourself whither we go with the sick, and to whom we take them.
Polus: To the physicians, Socrates.
Socrates: And to whom do we go with the unjust and intemperate?
Polus: To the judges, you mean.
SOCRATES: Who are to punish them?
Polus: Yes.
Socrates: And do not those who rightly punish others, punish them in accordance with a certain rule of justice?
Polus: Clearly.
Socrates: Then the art of moneymaking frees a man from poverty; medicine from disease; and justice from intemperance and injustice?