Injustice on a large enough scale, is stronger, freer, and more masterly than justice

[presence]

344c: οὕτως, ὦ Σώκρατες, καὶ ἰσχυρότερον καὶ ἐλευθεριώτερον καὶ δεσποτικώτερον ἀδικία δικαιοσύνης ἐστὶν ἱκανῶς γιγνομένη, καὶ ὅπερ ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἔλεγον, τὸ μὲν τοῦ κρείττονος συμφέρον τὸ δίκαιον τυγχάνει ὄν, τὸ δ᾽ ἄδικον ἑαυτῷ λυσιτελοῦν τε καὶ συμφέρον. [3]

"Thus, Socrates, injustice on a sufficiently large scale
is a stronger, freer, and a more masterful thing than justice,
and, as I said in the beginning,
it is the advantage of the stronger that is the just,
while the unjust is what profits man's self and is for his advantage."

-Thrasymachus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrasymachus

While visiting the Piraeus with Glaucon, Socrates is asked by Polemarchus to join him for a celebration. Cephalus, Polemarchus, and Thrasymachus are then each asked their definitions of justice by Socrates. Cephalus defines justice as giving what is owed. Polemarchus says justice is "the art which gives good to friends and evil to enemies". Thrasymachus proclaims "justice is nothing else than the interest of the stronger".


Socrates overturns their definitions and says...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_(Plato)#Book_I

The Introduction [54k] Book I [99k] Book II [92k] Book III [109k]

Book IV [93k] Book V [112k] Book VI [95k] Book VII [92k]

Book VIII [92k] Book IX [76k] Book X [91k]

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